Substituted diamine derivatives useful as motilin antagonists

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel substituted diamine derivatives for the formula 
                 
 
wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , X 4 , A, Y and n are as described in the specification, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and intermediates used in their manufacture. More particularly, the compounds of the invention are motilin receptor antagonists useful for the treatment of associated conditions and disorders such as gastrointestinal reflux disorders, eating disorders leading to obesity and irritable bowel syndrome.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/829,767, filed Apr. 10, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,511,980, which claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/202,131, filed May 5, 2000, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel substituted diamine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and intermediates used in their manufacture. More particularly, the compounds of the invention are motilin receptor antagonists useful for the treatment of associated conditions and disorders such as gastrointestinal reflux disorders, eating disorders leading to obesity and irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In mammals, the digestion of nutrients and the elimination of waste are controlled by the gastrointestinal system. Within this system, there are a number of natural peptides, ligands, enzymes, and receptors which play a vital role and are potential targets for drug discovery. Modifying the production of, or responses to these endogenous substances can have an effect upon the physiological responses such as diarrhea, nausea, and abdominal cramping. One example of an endogenous substance which affects the gastrointestinal system is motilin.

Motilin is a peptide of 22 amino acids which is produced in the gastrointestinal system of a number of species. Although the sequence of the peptide varies from species to species, there are a great deal of similarities. For example, human motilin and porcine motilin are identical; while motilin isolated from the dog and the rabbit differ by five and four amino acids respectively. Motilin induces smooth muscle contractions in the stomach tissue of dogs, rabbits, and humans as well as in the colon of rabbits. Apart from local gastrointestinal intestinal tissues, motilin and its receptors have been found in other areas. For example motilin has been found in circulating plasma, where a rise in the concentration of motilin has been associated with gastric effects which occur during fasting in dogs and humans. Itoh, Z. et al. Scand. J. Gastroenterol. 11:93-110, (1976); Vantrappen, G. et al. Dig. Dis Sci 24, 497-500 (1979). In addition, when motilin was intravenously administered to humans it was found to increase gastric emptying and gut hormone release. Christofides, N. D. et al. Gastroenterology 76:903-907, 1979.

Aside from motilin itself, there are other substances which are agonists of the motilin receptor and which elicit gastrointestinal emptying. One of those agents is the antibiotic erythromycin. Even though erythromycin is a useful drug, a great number of patients are affected by the drug's gastrointestinal side effects. Studies have shown that erythromycin elicits biological responses that are comparable to motilin itself and therefore may be useful in the treatment of diseases such as chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction and gastroparesis. Weber, F. et al., The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 88:4, 485-90 (1993).

Although motilin and erythromycin are agonists of the motilin receptor, there is a need for antagonists of this receptor as well. The nausea, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea which are associated with motilin agonists are unwelcome physiological events. The increased gut motility induced by motilin has been implicated in diseases such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and esophageal reflux. Therefore researchers have been searching for motilin antagonists.

One such antagonist is OHM-11526. This is a peptide derived from porcine motilin which competes with both motilin and erythromycin for the motilin receptor in a number of species, including rabbits and humans. In addition, this peptide is an antagonist of the contractile smooth muscle response to both erythromycin and motilin in an in vitro rabbit model. Depoortere, I. et al., European Journal of Pharmacology, 286, 241-47, (1995). Although this substance is potent in that model (IC₅₀ 1.0 nM) it is a peptide and as such offers little hope as an oral drug since it is susceptible to the enzymes of the digestive tract. Zen Itoh, Motilin, xvi (1990). Therefore it is desirable to find other non-peptidic agents which act as motilin antagonists. The compounds of this invention are such agents.

The compounds of this invention are non-peptidyl motilin antagonists with potencies and activities comparable to known peptidyl motilin antagonists. These compounds compete with motilin and erythromycin for the motilin receptor site in vitro. In addition, these compounds suppress smooth muscle contractions induced by motilin and erythromycin with activities and potencies comparable to OHM 11526 in an in vitro model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compounds of the formula (I):

wherein

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, and lower alkyl; wherein the alkyl, aryl or heterocyclyl moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl;

R² is selected from the group consisting of aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, diarylalkyl, aminoalkyl, tri-halomethyl, arylamino and lower alkyl; wherein the alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl, or amino moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, phenyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl and alkoxycarbonyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; provided that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂;

alternatively R¹, R² and X¹ can be taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form a monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure; wherein the monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, oxo, nitro, cyano, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, trialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy, acetyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, aralkyl andr heterocyclyl;

A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyl-alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkenyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl-alkyl; alkyl-aryl-alkyl, alkyl-aryl, aryl-alkyl and phenyl; where, in each case, the A group may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from R⁷;

where R⁷ is selected from alkyl, tri-halomethyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, diarylalkyl, aminoalkyl, or arylamino; wherein the alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl, or amino moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, phenyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl;

provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclo-alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, arylamino and lower alkyl; wherein the aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, alkylamino, arylamino or lower alkyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl;

Y is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NH—, —S— and —SO₂—;

n is an integer from 0 to 5;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, N-alkyl-N-aralkyl-amino, trialkylamino, dialkylaminoalkoxyalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, oxo-substituted heterocyclyl and lower alkyl-substituted heterocyclyl;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, trialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Relative to the above generic description, certain compounds of the general formula are preferred.

where p and t are integers from 1-6. More preferably, R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-(1-methylpyrrolidinyl), 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)aminoethyloxyethyl, N-methyl-N-benzyl-amino, di(methyl)amino and diethylamino. More preferably still, R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)amino and di(ethyl)amino. More referably still, R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl and di(methyl)amino. Most preferably, R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 1-piperidinyl;

Preferably R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl. More preferably R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention are those compounds of general formula (I) wherein:

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aralkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl-alkyl; where the aralkyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl-alkyl may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, tri-halomethyl, hydroxy or nitro;

R² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, tri-halomethyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylamino, biphenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl-alkyl; where the aryl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, diphenylmethyl, tri-halomethyl or trihaloalkylacetyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; such that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂;

A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, -cycloalkyl, -cycloalkenyl-, cycloalkenyl-alkyl- and -aryl-alkyl-;

where the alkyl moiety in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from aralkyl or cycloalkyl;

provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl and arylamino; where the aryl or aralkyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or tri-halomethyl;

Y is —O—;

n is an integer from 0 to 3;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, heterocyclyl, oxo-substituted heterocyclyl, lower alkyl-substituted heterocyclyl, di(lower alkyl)amino, N-lower alkyl-N-aralkyl-amino and di(lower alkyl)amino alkoxy alkyl;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In a preferred embodiment are compounds of the general formula (I) wherein:

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl (C₁-C₆) alkyl-, naphthyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl and heterocyclyl (C₁-C₆)alkyl- where the heterocyclyl group is selected from pyridyl and where the phenyl, naphthyl or heterocyclyl moiety is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, tri-halomethyl, hydroxy and nitro;

R² is selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₆)branched or unbranched alkyl, phenyl, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-, tri-halomethyl, phenylamino-, biphenyl, diphenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-, C₅₋₈cycloalkyl, C₅₋₈cycloalkyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl- wherein the heterocyclyl moiety is selected from naphthyl, furyl, pyridyl, pyrrolidinyl and thienyl and wherein the phenyl or heterocyclyl group may be substituted with one to four substitutuents selected from halogen, lower alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, carboxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, diphenylmethyl, trihalomethyl and trihaloalkylacetyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; such that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂;

A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, loweralkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-loweralkyl, -cycloalkyl, -cycloalkenyl-, cycloalkenyl-loweralkyl- and -phenyl-loweralkyl- and -benzyl-loweralkyl, provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl, benzyl and phenylamino-; where the phenyl or benzyl moieties may be substituted with one to three substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and trihalomethyl;

Y is —O—;

n is an integer from 0 to 3;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, heterocyclyl, oxo substituted heterocyclyl, lower alkyl-substituted heterocyclyl, di(loweralkyl) amino, N-lower alkyl-N-aralkyl-amino and a moiety of the formula:

where p and t are integers from 1-6;

R⁵ is selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention are compounds of the general formula (I) wherein

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 4-methylbenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 2,3-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl, 1-naphthyl-methyl, 2-pyridyl-methyl and 4-(1-hydroxy)pyridyl;

R² is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, t-butyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-(phenyl)propyl, 1-(phenyl)propyl, 3-carboxy-n-propyl, 3-carboxy-3-methyl-n-butyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-carboxy-n-propyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2-naphthyl, phenylamino, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropan-2-oyl, diphenylmethyl, 4-biphenyl, 3-carboxymethyl-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopentyl, cyclopentylethyl, (1-carboxymethyl-cyclopentyl)-methyl, 2-furyl, 2-pyridyl-(2-ethyl), 1-pyrrolidinyl-(2-ethyl), 2-theinylmethyl and 2-thienylethyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂;

A is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethyl, 1,3-propyl, 1,4-butyl, 2-methyl-1,3-propyl, 1,1,-dimethyl-(1,3-propyl), 2-cyclopentyl-1,3-n-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,2-cyclopent-1-enyl, 1,4-cyclopentyl-2-ene-methyl, methyl-1,3-cyclohexyl, 1,2-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl, 1,4-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1,2-cyclohex-4-enyl, 1,3-phenyl-methyl and 1-benzyl-methyl-;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenylamino, 4-methylphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-fluorobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl and 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl;

Y is selected from the group consisting of -3-O— and -4-O—;

n is an integer selected from 0, 2 or 3;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-(1-methylpyrrolidinyl), 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)aminoethyloxyethyl, N-methyl-N-benzyl-amino, di(methyl)amino and diethylamino;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention are compounds of the formula (I) wherein R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form an optionally substituted, monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure selected from the group consisting of 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]piperazin-1-yl, 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]naphthyl, isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-t-butyl-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-fluoro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-methyl-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5,6-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 4,7-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-bromo-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-acetyloxy-isoindole-1,3-dione, benzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione, 8-fluorobenzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione, 4,4-dimethyl-piperidine-2,6-dione, 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dione and 8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisquinolinyl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-propyl, X³ is C(O), R³ is 4-fluorobenzyl, Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.

In another preferred embodiment R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]piperazin-1-yl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-n-propyl, X³ is absent, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, X⁴ is C(O), Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.

In still another preferred embodiment, R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]-naphthyl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-n-propyl, X³ is absent, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, X⁴ is C(O), Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.

In a class of the invention are compounds of the formula (I) wherein

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl and 2-pyridyl-methyl;

R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl, diphenylmethyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO;

A is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethyl, 1,3-propyl, 2-methyl-1,3-propyl, 1,1,-dimethyl-(1,3-propyl), 2-cyclopentyl-1,3-n-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 2-fluorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl and 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl;

Y is selected from the group consisting of -3-O— and −4-O—;

n is an integer selected from 2 or 3;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)amino and di(ethyl)amino;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In another class of the invention are compounds of the formula (I) wherein

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl and 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl;

R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO;

A is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl;

Y is -3-O—;

n is 2;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl and di(methyl)amino;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

Particularly preferred are compounds of the formula (I) wherein

R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl and 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl;

R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl;

X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO;

A is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl;

Y is -3-O—;

n is 2;

R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 1-piperidinyl;

R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and 2-methyl;

and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In still another particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention are compounds of the formula (I) wherein R¹ is 3-chlorobenzyl, R² is trichloromethyl, X¹ is CO, X² is absent, X³ is absent, X⁴ is CO, A is 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl-, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, Y is -3-O—, n is 2, R⁴ is 1-piperidinyl, R⁵ is hydrogen and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

In still another particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention are compounds of the formula (I) wherein R¹ is 3-chlorobenzyl, R² is trichloromethyl, X¹ is CO, X² is absent, X³ is absent, X⁴ is CO, A is 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, Y is -3-O—, n is 2, R⁴ is 1-piperidinyl, R⁵ is hydrogen and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters and pro-drug forms thereof.

Listed in Tables 1-16 are specific compounds of the present invention.

TABLE 1

ID # R¹ R² R³ 128 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 163 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 164 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 3-fluorobenzyl 165 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 2-fluorobenzyl 166 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-methoxybenzyl 167 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl 168 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-chlorobenzyl

TABLE 2

ID R¹ R² R³ Y n R⁴ R⁵ 129 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 159 benzyl 3-(phenyl)propyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 162 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 169 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 3-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 170 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 2-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 171 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-methoxybenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 172 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 173 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-chlorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 175 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O— 0 H H 176 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl H 177 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 dimethylamino H ethyloxyethyl 178 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 diethylamino H 179 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-piperazinyl H 180 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 181 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 dimethylamino H 182 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-piperidinyl H 187 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 3 dimethylamino H 188 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 3 1-piperidinyl H 191 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 4-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 192 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 4-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 193 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 4-O 3 1-piperidinyl H 194 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 4-O 2 dimethylamino H 195 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 4-O 2 diethylamino H 196 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl 2-methyl 197 3-nitrobenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 198 3-chlorobenzyl 3-methoxybenzyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 199 3,5-dichlorobenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 200 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 201 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 202 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 203 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 204 3-chlorobenzyl 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl H 205 3-nitrobenzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 206 3-chlorobenzyl 3-methoxybenzyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl H 207 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl 6-methyl 215 2-(phenyl)ethyl 3-carboxybenzyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 1-pyrrolidinyl 2-methyl 234 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorobenzyl 3-O 2 4-morpholinyl 2-methyl

TABLE 3

ID R¹ R² A R³ 154 ben- 2-(phe- 2-cyclopentenyl-1,3-n-propyl 4-fluorobenzyl zyl nyl)ethyl 155 ben- 2-(phe- cis-1,2-cyclohex-4-enyl 4-fluorobenzyl zyl nyl)ethyl 156 ben- 2-(phe- 1,2-cylopentenyl H zyl nyl)ethyl 160 ben- 2-(phe- 1,3-n-butyl 4-fluorobenzyl zyl nyl)ethyl 189 ben- 2-(phe- 2-methyl-(1,3-propyl) 4-fluorobenzyl zyl nyl)ethyl 190 ben- 2-(phe- 1,1-dimethyl-(1,3-propyl) 4-fluorobenzyl zyl nyl)ethyl

TABLE 4

ID R¹ R² X⁴ R³ 5 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO phenylamino 6 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl 7 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 12 benzyl ethyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 13 benzyl ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl 14 benzyl ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 19 benzyl methyl CO phenylamino 20 benzyl methyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 21 benzyl methyl CO 4-methylphenyl 22 benzyl methyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 26 benzyl benzyl CO phenylamino 27 benzyl benzyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 28 benzyl benzyl CO 4-methylphenyl 29 benzyl benzyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 34 4-methylbenzyl ethyl CO phenylamino 35 4-methylbenzyl ethyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 36 4-methylbenzyl ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl 37 4-methylbenzyl ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl

TABLE 5

ID R¹ R² X⁴ R³ 1 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO phenylamino 2 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 3 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl 4 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 8 benzyl ethyl CO phenylamino 9 benzyl ethyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 10 benzyl ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl 11 benzyl ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 15 benzyl methyl CO phenylamino 16 benzyl methyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 17 benzyl methyl CO 4-methylphenyl 18 benzyl methyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 23 benzyl benzyl CO phenylamino 24 benzyl benzyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl 25 benzyl benzyl CO 4-methylphenyl 30 4-methyl- ethyl CO phenylamino benzyl 31 4-methyl- ethyl SO₂ 4-methylphenyl benzyl 32 4-methyl- ethyl CO 4-methylphenyl benzyl 33 4-methyl- ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl benzyl 143 H diphenylmethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 144 benzyl 3-(phenyl)propyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 145 benzyl 2,2-dimethylpropyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 146 benzyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl 147 3-chloro- 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl CO 4-fluorophenyl benzyl

TABLE 6

ID R¹ R² Stereo^(#) R³ R⁴ 232 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl N-methyl-N-benzyl-amino 233 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl di(ethyl)amino 235 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 2-(1-methyl)pyrrolidinyl 236 3-chlorobenzyl trichloromethyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 2-(1-methyl)pyrrolidinyl 237 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 238 3-chlorobenzyl trichloromethyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 239^(a) 3-chlorobenzyl trichloromethyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 240^(b) 3-chlorobenzyl trichloromethyl 1R, 3S 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 264 hydrogen 3-carboxy-n-propyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 265 hydrogen 3-carboxy-1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 266 hydrogen 3-methyl-3-carboxy-n-butyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 267 hydrogen (1-carboxymethyl-cyclopentyl)-methyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl 268 hydrogen 3-carboxy-2,2-dimethyl-n-propyl cis racemate 4-fluorophenyl 1-piperidinyl ^(#)The term “cis racemate” denotes a mixture of four possible diastereomers, with the two cis diastereomers predominately present.

TABLE 7

ID R¹ X¹ R² R³ 40 benzyl CO phenylamino phenylamino 41 benzyl CO 3-methoxyphenyl phenylamino 42 benzyl CO t-butyl phenylamino 43 benzyl CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl phenylamino 44 benzyl CO 2-naphthyl phenylamino 45 benzyl CO 3-nitrophenyl phenylamino 46 benzyl CO diphenylmethyl phenylamino 47 3-chlorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 48 benzyl CO 2-furyl phenylamino 49 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3,5-di-tri- phenylamino fluoromethylphenyl 50 3-chlorobenzyl CO 4-biphenyl phenylamino 51 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-methoxyphenyl phenylamino 52 3-chlorobenzyl CO t-butyl phenylamino 53 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl phenylamino 54 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-naphthyl phenylamino 55 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-nitrophenyl phenylamino 56 3-chlorobenzyl CO diphenyl methyl phenylamino 57 benzyl SO₂ 2-naphthyl phenylamino 58 3-fluorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 59 3,4-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl phenylamino benzyl 60 3,5-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl phenylamino benzyl 61 3-methoxybenzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 62 3-trifluoro- CO trichloromethyl phenylamino methylbenzyl 63 4-chlorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 64 1-naphthyl- CO trichloromethyl phenylamino methyl 65 3-nitrobenzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 66 2,3-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl phenylamino benzyl 67 benzyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 68 2-pyridyl-methyl CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 69 H CO phenynamino phenylamino 70 H CO 2-furyl phenylamino 71 H SO₂ 2-naphthyl phenylamino 72 H CO trichloromethyl phenylamino 73 H CO trifluoromethyl phenylamino 74 H CO 3,5-di-trifluoro- phenylamino methylphenyl 75 H CO 4-biphenyl phenylamino 76 H CO 3-methoxyphenyl phenylamino 77 H CO t-butyl phenylamino 78 H CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl phenylamino 79 H CO 2-naphthyl phenylamino 80 H CO 3-nitrophenyl phenylamino 81 H CO diphenylmethyl phenylamino 82 benzyl CO 3,5-di(trifluoro- phenylamino methyl)phenyl 83 benzyl CO 4-biphenyl phenylamino 86 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-hydroxyphenyl phenylamino 90 2-pyridyl-methyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 91 H CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 92 2,3-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl benzyl 93 3-nitrobenzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 94 1-naphthyl- CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl methyl 95 4-chlorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 96 3-trifluoro- CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl methylbenzyl 97 3-methoxybenzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 98 3,5-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl benzyl 99 3,4-dichloro- CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl benzyl 100 3-fluorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 101 3-chlorobenzyl CO diphenylmethyl 4-fluorophenyl 102 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-nitrophenyl 4-fluorophenyl 103 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-naphthyl 4-fluorophenyl 104 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorophenyl 105 3-chlorobenzyl CO t-butyl 4-fluorophenyl 106 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-methoxyphenyl 4-fluorophenyl 107 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3,5-di-trifluoro- 4-fluorophenyl methylphenyl 108 3-chlorobenzyl CO trifluoromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 109 3-chlorobenzyl CO 4-biphenyl 4-fluorophenyl 110 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3,3,3-tri- 4-fluorophenyl fluoropropan-2-onyl 111 3-chlorobenzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 112 benzyl CO diphenylmethyl 4-fluorophenyl 113 benzyl CO 3-nitrophenyl 4-fluorophenyl 114 benzyl CO 2-naphthyl 4-fluorophenyl 115 benzyl CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl 4-fluorophenyl 116 benzyl CO t-butyl 4-fluorophenyl 117 benzyl CO 3-methoxyphenyl 4-fluorophenyl 118 benzyl CO 4-biphenyl 4-fluorophenyl 119 benzyl CO 3,5-ditrifluoro- 4-fluorophenyl methylphenyl 120 benzyl CO trifluoromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 121 benzyl CO 3,3,3-trifluoro- 4-fluorophenyl propan-2-onyl 122 benzyl CO trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 123 benzyl SO₂ 2-naphthyl 4-fluorophenyl 124 benzyl CO 2-furyl 4-fluorophenyl 125 benzyl CO phenylamino 4-fluorophenyl 241 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3-methoxybenzyl 4-fluorophenyl 242 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-cyclopentylethyl 4-fluorophenyl 243 3-chlorobenzyl CO 4-methoxybenzyl 4-fluorophenyl 244 3-chlorobenzyl CO Benzyl 4-fluorophenyl 245 3-chlorobenzyl CO 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl 4-fluorophenyl 246 3-chlorobenzyl CO t-butylmethyl 4-fluorophenyl 247 3-chlorobenzyl CO 1(1-phenyl)propyl 4-fluorophenyl 248 3-chlorobenzyl CO 2-thienylmethyl 4-fluorophenyl 249 3-chlorobenzyl CO 4-fluorobenzyl 4-fluorophenyl

TABLE 8

ID R¹ R² R³ 158 H trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 161 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl 4-fluorophenyl 157 benzyl trifluoromethyl 4-fluorophenyl

TABLE 9

ID R¹ R² Stereo^(#) R³ R⁵ 208 3-nitrobenzyl tri- 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl CH₃ chloromethyl 209 3-chlorobenzyl tri- 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl CH₃ chloromethyl 210 benzyl tri- 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl CH₃ chloromethyl 223 3-chlorobenzyl tri- cis phenylamino H chloromethyl racemate 224 benzyl tri- cis phenylamino H chloromethyl racemate 225 benzyl t-butyl cis phenylamino H racemate 226 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl cis 4-fluorophenyl H racemate 227 3,4-dichloro- t-butyl cis 4-fluorophenyl H benzyl racemate 228 3,4-difluoro- t-butyl cis 4-fluorophenyl H benzyl racemate 229 benzyl t-butyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl H 230 benzyl t-butyl 1R, 3S 4-fluorophenyl H 211 3-nitrobenzyl tri- cis 4-fluorophenyl H chloromethyl racemate 212 3-chlorobenzyl tri- cis 4-fluorophenyl H chloromethyl racemate 213 benzyl tri- cis 4-fluorophenyl H chloromethyl racemate 214 benzyl t-butyl cis 4-fluorophenyl H racemate ^(#)The term “cis racemate” denotes a mixture of four possible diastereomers, with the two cis diastereomers predominately present.

TABLE 10

Cyclohexyl Relative Conformation is CIS ID R¹ R² R³ 174 2-pyridylmethyl trichloromethyl 4-fluorophenyl 183 benzyl benzyl phenylamino 184 3-chlorobenzyl 3-methoxyphenyl phenylamino 185 3-chlorobenzyl 2-furyl phenylamino 186 3-nitrobenzyl 3-methoxyphenyl phenylamino

TABLE 11

ID R¹ R² Stereo R³ 216 benzyl t-butyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 217 3-chlorobenzyl t-butyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 218 benzyl trichloromethyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 219 3-nitrobenzyl trichloromethyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 220 3,4-difluorobenzyl t-butyl 1S, 3R 4-fluorophenyl 231 benzyl trichloromethyl 1R, 3S 4-fluorophenyl

TABLE 12

ID R¹ X¹ R² 130 H CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl 131 H CO trichloromethyl 132 H CO 4-biphenyl 133 H CO diphenylmethyl 134 H CO 3-methoxybenzyl 135 H SO₂ 4-biphenyl 151 benzyl CO trichloromethyl 152 benzyl CO 2-(phenyl)ethyl

TABLE 13

ID R¹ R² 136 benzyl 2-(phenyl)ethyl 137 H diphenylmethyl 138 H 2-(phenyl)ethyl 139 benzyl 3-(phenyl)propyl 140 benzyl 2,2-dimethylpropyl 141 3-chlorobenzyl 2,2-dimethylpropyl

TABLE 14

R¹, R² and X¹ Taken ID Together (with the amine nitrogen) A X³ X⁴ R³ 142 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4- 1,3-phenyl- absent CO 4-fluoro tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl methyl phenyl 148 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4- 1,3-n-propyl absent CO 4-fluoro tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl phenyl 149 4-[(4- 1,3-n-propyl absent CO 4-fluoro chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]- phenyl piperazin-1-yl 150 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy- 1,3-n-propyl absent CO 4-fluoro 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]-naphthyl phenyl 153 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4- 1,3-n-propyl CO absent 4-fluoro tetrahydroisoquinolinyl benzyl

TABLE 15

ID R¹ R² A R³ R⁴ 39 3-chloro trichloro methyl-1,3- phenyl 4-morpholinyl benzyl methyl cyclopentyl amino 221 benzyl t-butyl 1,4-cyclopentyl- 4-fluoro 1-pyrrolidinyl 2-ene-methyl phenyl

TABLE 16

R¹, R² and X¹ Taken Together ID (with the amine nitrogen) 250 5-t-butyl-isoindole-1,3-dione 251 5-fluoro-isoindole-1,3-dione 252 benzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione 253 5-methyl-isoindole-1,3-dione 254 8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione 255 5,6-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione 256 5-methyl-isoindole-1,3-dione 257 isoindole-1,3-dione 258 4,4-dimethyl-piperidine-2,6-dione 259 5-bromo-isoindole-1,3-dione 260 5-acetyloxy-isoindole-1,3-dione 261 8-fluoro-benzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione 262 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-dione 263 4,7-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione

Particularly preferred intermediates in the preparation of compounds of formula (I) are listed in Table 17 below.

TABLE 17

ID # R¹ R² R³ R⁴ 84 benzyl H phenylamino 4-morpholino 85 3-chlorobenzyl H phenylamino 4-morpholino 87 3,5-dichlorobenzyl H phenylamino 4-morpholino 88 1-naphthylmethyl H phenylamino 4-morpholino 89 4-(1-hydroxy)-pyridyl H phenylamino 4-morpholino 222 benzyl benzyl 4-fluorophenyl 1-pyrrolidinyl

Illustrative of the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and any of the compounds described above. Illustrating the invention is a pharmaceutical composition made by mixing any of the compounds described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A further illustration of the invention is a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising mixing any of the compounds described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Included in the invention is the use of any of the compounds described above for the preparation of a medicament for treating a disorder mediated by the motilin receptor, in a subject in need thereof.

Also included in the invention is the use of any of the compounds described above for the preparation of a medicament for treating a condition selected from gastrointestinal reflux disorders, eating disorders leading to obesity and irritable bowel syndrome in a subject in need thereof.

Exemplifying the invention are methods of treating a disorder mediated by the motilin receptor, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of any of the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described above.

An example of the invention is a method for treating a condition selected from gastrointestinal reflux disorders, eating disorders leading to obesity and irritable bowel syndrome in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of any of the compounds or pharmaceutical compositions described above.

Another example of the invention is the use of any of the compounds described above in the preparation of a medicament for: (a) treating gastrointestinal reflux disorders, (b) treating irritable bowel syndrome, (c) treating eating disorders leading to obesity, in a subject in need thereof.

Listed below are definitions of various terms used to describe this invention. These definitions apply to the terms as they are used throughout this specification, unless otherwise limited in specific instances, either individually or as part of a larger group.

The term “halogen” or “halo” refers to fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

The term “alkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to straight or branched chain unsubstituted hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8 carbon atoms. The expression “lower alkyl” refers to straight or branched chain unsubstituted alkyl groups of 1 to 6 carbon atoms. For example, alkyl radicals include, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl, 3-methylbutyl, 2-pentyl, 2-methylpropyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3,3-dimethylpropyl, neo-pentyl, n-hexyl, 2-hexyl and 2-methylpentyl. Similarly, the term “alkenyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to straight or branched chain alkene groups of 2 to 10 carbon atoms. The term “lower alkenyl” refers to straight or branched chain alkene groups of 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

The term “substituted alkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to an alkyl group substituted by, for example, one to four substituents, such as, halo, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyoxy, heterocyclyloxy, oxo, alkanoyl, aryloxy, alkanoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, arylamino, aralkylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloamino, disubstituted amines in which the amino substituents are independently selected from alkyl, aryl or aralkyl, alkanoylamine, aroylamino, aralkanoylamino, substituted alkanoylamino, substituted arylamino, substituted aralkanoylamino, thiol, alkylthio, arylthio, aralkylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocyclothio, alkylthiono, arylthiono, aralkylthiono, alkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, aralkylsulfonyl, sulfonamido (e.g. SO₂NH₂), substituted sulfonamido, nitro, cyano, carboxy, carbamyl (e.g. CONH₂) substituted carbamyl (e.g. CONH alkyl, CONH aryl, CONH aralkyl or cases where there are two substituents on the nitrogen selected from alkyl, aryl or aralkyl), alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, substituted aryl, guanidino and heterocyclos, such as indolyl, imidazolyl, furyl, thienyl, thiazolyl, pyrrolidyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl and the like.

The term “cycloalkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to saturated unsubstituted cyclic hydrocarbon ring systems, preferably containing 1 to 3 rings and 3 to 8 carbon atoms per ring. For example, cycloalkyl radicals include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and the like. Similarly, the term “cycloalkenyl” refers to partially unsaturated, unsubstituted cyclic hydrocarbon groups of 3 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 3 to 8 carbon atoms. Suitable examples of cycloalkenyl groups include cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclooctyl, cyclodecyl, cyclododecyl, adamantyl, and the like.

The term “alkoxy”, unless otherwise specified, refers to oxygen ether radical of the above described straight or branched chain alkyl groups. The expression “lower alkoxy” refers to unsubstituted alkoxy groups of 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Suitable examples of alkoxy groups include methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, sec-butoxy, t-butoxy, n-hexyloxy and the like.

The term “aryl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon groups having 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the ring portion, such as phenyl, naphthyl, biphenyl and diphenyl, each of which may be optionally substituted.

The term “aralkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to an aryl group bonded directly through an alkyl group, such as benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-(phenyl)propyl, naphthyl-methyl and the like.

The term “substituted aryl” refers to an aryl group substituted by, for example, one to five substituents such as alkyl; substituted alkyl, halo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyloxy, heterocyclooxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, aralkylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloamino, dialkylamino, alkanoylamino, thiol, alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocyclothio, ureido nitro, cyano, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carbamyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylthiono, arylthiono, alkysulfonyl, sulfonamido, aryloxy and the like.

The term “diarylalkyl”, unless otherwise specified, refers to an alkyl group substituted with two independently selected aryl groups. Suitable examples include diphenylmethyl, 1,1-diphenylethyl, and the like.

The term “heteroatom” shall include oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen.

The terms “heterocyclyl”, “heterocyclic” and “heterocyclo”, unless otherwise specified, refer to a saturated, unsaturated, partially unsaturated, aromatic, partially aromatic or non-aromatic cyclic group. Such a group, for example, can be a 4 to 7 membered monocyclic or a 7 to 11 bicyclic ring system which contains at least one heteroatom in at least one carbon atom containing ring. Each ring of the heterocyclic group containing a heteroatom may have 1, 2, 3 or 4 heteroatoms selected from nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms and sulfur atoms, where the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may also optionally be oxidized and where the nitrogen heteroatoms may also optionally be quaternized. The heterocyclic group may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom.

Exemplary monocyclic heterocyclic groups include pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, indolyl, pyrazolyl, oxetanyl, pyrazolinyl, imidazolyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, oxazolyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolinyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, furyl, tetrahydrofuryl, thienyl, oxadiazolyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperidinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, 2-oxazepinyl, azepinyl, 4-piperidonyl, pyridyl, N-oxo-pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, tetrahydropryanyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl, tetrahydrothiopyranyl sulfone, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiomorpholinyl sulfone, 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydro-1, 1-dioxothienyl, dioxanyl, isothiazolidinyl, thietanyl, thiiranyl, triazinyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl and the like.

Exemplary bicyclic heterocyclic groups include benzothiazolyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothienyl, quinuclidinyl, quinolinyl, quinolinyl-N-oxide, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzopyranyl, indolizinyl, benzofuryl, chromonyl, coumarinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, indazolyl, pyrrolopyridyl, furopyridinyl (such as furo[2,3-c]pyridinyl, furo[3,1-b]pyridinyl, or furo[2,3-b]pyridinyl), dihydroisoindolyl, dihydroquinazolinyl (such as 3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-quinazolinyl), benzisothiazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzodiazinyl, benzofurazanyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzotriazolyl, benzpyrazolyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, dihydrobenzopyranyl, indolinyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, naphthyridinyl, phthalazinyl, piperonyl, purinyl, pyridopyridyl, quinazolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thienofuryl, thienopyridyl, thienothienyl, and the like.

The term “monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure” shall mean any 4 to 8 monocyclic or 7 to 11 fused bicyclic or 13 to 14 tricyclic ring structure; wherein the ring structure is saturated, partially unsaturated or benzo-fuzed; wherein the ring structure contains at least one nitrogen atom through which the ring structure is bound directly to the other portions of the compound; and wherein the ring structure may optionally containing one to three additional heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur.

Suitable examples include 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthyl, isoindolyl, benzo[e]isoindolyl, 8-aza-spiro[4.5]decane, 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.o]hexane, and the like.

The monocylic, bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure may optionally be substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from alkyl, substituted alkyl, halo, trifluoromethoxy, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyloxy, heterocyclooxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, amino, alkylamino, aralkylamino, cycloalkylamino, heterocycloamino, dialkylamino, alkanoylamino, thiol, alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, heterocyclothio, ureido nitro, cyano, oxo, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, carbamyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylthiono, arylthiono, alkysulfonyl, sulfonamido, aryloxy, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, and the like.

The term “tri-halomethyl” refers to trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, tribromomethyl and triiodomethyl.

Under standard nomenclature used throughout this disclosure, the terminal portion of the designated side chain is described first, followed by the adjacent functionality toward the point of attachment. Thus, for example, a “phenyl(alkyl)amido(alkyl)” substituent refers to a group of the formula

Where the compounds according to this invention have at least one chiral center, they may accordingly exist as enantiomers. Where the compounds possess two or more chiral centers, they may additionally exist as diastereomers. It is to be understood that all such isomers and mixtures thereof are encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, some of the crystalline forms for the compounds may exist as polymorphs and as such are intended to be included in the present invention. In addition, some of the compounds may form solvates with water (i.e., hydrates) or common organic solvents, and such solvates are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of this invention.

As used herein, the term “cis racemate” indicates a mixture of four possible diastereomers, more particularly, two cis diastereomers and two trans diastereomers, with the two cis diastereomers present in a amount equal to greater than about 75%, preferably in an amount greater than about 90%, more preferably in an amount greater than about 95%.

When a particular group is “substituted” (e.g., aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl), that group may have one or more substituents, preferably from one to five substituents, more preferably from one to three substituents, most preferably from one to two substituents, independently selected from the list of substituents. Where the group has a plurality of moieties, such as “alkylamino” or “heterocyclyl-alkyl” the substitution may be on any or all of the moieties independently, e.g. in the case of “alkylamino” the substitution may be on the alkyl or amino moiety, or both.

It is intended that the definition of any substituent or variable at a particular location in a molecule be independent of its definitions elsewhere in that molecule. It is understood that substituents and substitution patterns on the compounds of this invention can be selected by one of ordinary skill in the art to provide compounds that are chemically stable and that can be readily synthesized by techniques known in the art as well as those methods set forth herein.

Suitable protecting groups as referred to within this specification include the standard hydroxy and amino protecting groups, as applicable. The terms “hydroxy protecting group” and “amino protecting group” as used herein mean any of the known protecting groups used in the art of organic synthesis, for example as described in Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2^(nd) Ed., T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1991, hereby incorporated by reference.

Examples of hydroxy-protecting groups P, include, but are not limited to, methyl, benzyl, tetrahydropyranyl, tri(C₁-C₆)alkylsilyl such as t-butyldimethylsilyl, t-butyl, 2-methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM), 4-dimethylcarbamoylbenzyl and O-phenoxyacetyl ethers. The hydroxy-protecting group selected is preferably one that is easily removable in the reaction process.

Examples of suitable amino protecting groups include, but are not limited to, acetyl (Ac), benzoyl (Bz), trifluoroacetyl (Tfa), toluenesulfonyl (Tos), benzyl (Bn), triphenylmethyl (Trt), o-nitrophenyl-sulfenyl (Nps), benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz or Z), t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc), allyloxycarbonyl (alloc), 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), 2-bromo-benzyloxycarbonyl (2-Br-Z), 2-chloro-benzyloxycarbonyl (2-Cl-Z), t-butyl-dimethylsilyloxycarbonyl, [2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-propyl-2-oxycarbonyl] (Ddz), 2,2,2-trichloroethyloxycarbonyl (Troc), biphenylylisopropyloxycarbonyl (Bpoc), and o-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl.

Throughout this specification, certain abbreviations are employed having the following meanings, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

-   -   AcOH=Acetic Acid     -   ADDP=1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidine     -   BSA=Bovine Serum Albumin     -   DCM=Dichloromethane     -   DEAD=Diethyl azodicarboxylate     -   DIEA=Diisopropylethylamine     -   DMAP=Di(methyl)aminopyridine     -   DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide     -   DMSO=Dimethylsulfoxide     -   EA=Ethyl acetate     -   EDCl=1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide     -   EDTA=Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid     -   EGTA=Ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethyl         ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid     -   Et₂O=Diethyl ether     -   EtOAc=Ethyl acetate     -   EtOH=Ethanol     -   Et₃N=Triethylamine     -   HEPES=N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N-ethanesulfonic acid     -   LAH=Lithium Aluminum Hydride     -   MeOH=Methanol     -   MeI=Methyl Iodide     -   Oms=Mesylate     -   Otos=Tosylate     -   Phe=Phenyl     -   Pt=Protecting Group     -   PyBOP=Benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium         hexafluorophosphate     -   TBAF=Tetrabutylammonium fluoride     -   TEA=Triethylamine     -   TFA=Trifluoroacetic Acid     -   THF=Tetrahydrofuran     -   Tris-HCl=Tris[hydroxymethyl]aminomethyl hydrochloride

The synthesis of substituted N-benzyl-m-anisidines, compounds of formula (II), intermediates used in the synthetic route for select compounds of the invention, are known in the art.

Routes for synthesis of substituted N-benzyl-m-anisidines include alkylation (Hoerlein; Chem. Ber.; 87; 1954; 463, 467, 468), reductive amination (Nussbaumer, P.; et. al.; J Med Chem.; 37; 24; 1994; 4079-4084) and reduction of the corresponding N-benzoyl-m-anisidine (Pratt; McGovern; J. Org. Chem.; 29; 1964; 1540, 1542). Additionally, N-benzyl-N-phenyl-malonamic acid methyl ester, a compound of formula (III) below, is a known compound, a variant of one of the intermediates elucidated in the synthesis that follows (Wee, A.; Tetrahedron, 50; 3; 1994; 609-626).

Routes to the synthesis of 4-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines are also known in the literature (Maryanoff, B., et. al., J. Org. Chem., 46, 1981, 355-360; Schwan, T. et. al., J. Heterocycl. Chem., 1974, 11, 807; and references therein).

Schemes 1-8 below depict synthesis routes for producing compounds of the formula (I).

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X² and X³ are each carbonyl, X¹ and X⁴ are each absent and R³ is —CH₂—R⁶, may be produced according to the process outlined in Scheme 1. The process of Scheme 1 is particularly preferred for preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein A is incorporated into the molecule via reaction with a suitably selected unsymmetrically substituted anhydride; wherein A is a substituted alkyl; and wherein it is desired to have the substituent closer to the R¹X¹R²N portion of the compound of formula (I).

More specifically, a protected aniline derivative of formula (IV), wherein Pt represents a protecting group, a known compound or compound prepared by known methods, is reacted with a suitably substituted aldehyde of the formula (V), wherein R^(3A) is selected from hydrogen, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclo-alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, alkylaminoalkyl, arylamino, diarylamino or lower alkyl; in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium triacetoxyborohydride, and the like, under dehydrating conditions, for example, in an acid alcohol solution such as acidic methanol or in a solution of titanium tetraisopropoxide in DCM, to produce the corresponding secondary aniline derivative of formula (VI).

The secondary aniline derivative of formula (VI) is coupled with a suitably selected, protected dicarboxylic acid of formula (VII), wherein Pt′ is a protecting group or with an anhydride of the desired substituent A, to produce the corresponding acid-amide of formula (VIII).

When the secondary aniline derivative of formula (VI) is coupled with a cyclic anhydride of the desired substituent A, such as glutaric anhydride and the like, the anhydride ring is subjected to ring opening, preferably at a temperature between about room temperature and about 110° C., in an organic solvent such as chloroform, toluene, and the like.

When the secondary aniline derivative of formula (VI) is coupled with a protected dicarboxylic acid of formula (VII), the protecting group is then removed by hydrolysis, using an inorganic base such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and the like, in an alcohol or in an organic solvent/water mixture such as methanol, ethanol, THF/water, preferably lithium hydroxide in THF/water.

The acid-amide compound of formula (VIII) is activated using a known coupling agent, such as EDCl and the like, and coupled with a suitably substituted amine of formula (IX), in an organic base such as TEA, DIEA, and the like, in the presence-of an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM and the like, to produce the corresponding diamide of formula (X).

Alternatively, the acid-amine compound of formula (VIII) may be converted to the corresponding acid chloride with a reagent such thionyl chloride, oxalyl chloride, and the like, and then coupled to the substituted amine of formula (IX) to produce the diamide of formula (X).

The compound of formula (X) is deprotected by known methods [for example, when the protecting group is methyl ether, the methyl group is removed with boron tribromide in dichloromethane at −78° C.; when the protecting group is t-butyldimethylsilylether, the silyl group is removed with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in THF] to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XI).

The compound of formula (XI) is reacted with a suitably substituted compound of formula (XII), wherein W represents a leaving group such as halogen, OMS, OTos, and the like, in the presence of a base such as sodium hydride, potassium carbonate, and the like, in an organic solvent such as DMF, THF, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ia). Alternatively, when W is OH, the compound of formula (XI) may be reacted directly, under Mitsunobu conditions, to a suitably substituted compound of formula (XII).

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X² and X³ are each carbonyl, X¹ and X⁴ are each absent and R³ is —CH₂—R⁶ may alternatively be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 2.

Accordingly, a suitably substituted nitrobenzene of formula (XIII), a compound prepared by known methods, is reacted with a suitably substituted compound of formula (XII), wherein W represents a leaving group such as halogen, OMS, OTos, and the like, in the presence of a base such as sodium hydride, triethylamine, and the like, in an organic solvent such as DMF, THF, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XIV).

The nitro group on the compound of formula (XIV) is reduced by known methods, for example by hydrogenation over palladium on carbon in ethyl acetate, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XV).

The compound of formula (XV) is reacted with a suitably substituted aldehyde of formula (V), wherein R^(3A) is as previously defined, in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, sodium triacetoxyborohydride, and the like, under dehydrating conditions, for example, in an acid alcohol solution such as acidic methanol or in a solution of titanium tetraisopropoxide in DCM, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XVI).

The compound of formula (XVI) is reacted with a suitably selected anhydride of the desired A substituent, optionally in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XVII). When reacting with a cyclic anhydride of the desired substituent A, such as glutaric anhydride and the like, the anhydride ring is subjected to ring opening, preferably at a temperature between about room temperature and about 110° C., in an organic solvent such as chloroform, toluene, and the like.

The compound of formula (XVII) is coupled with a suitably substituted amine of formula (IX), in the presence of a coupling agent, such as PyBOP, and the like, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ib).

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X² and X³ are each carbonyl, X¹ and X⁴ are each absent and R³ is —CH₂—R⁶, may alternatively be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 3. This process is particularly preferred for preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein A is incorporated into the molecule via reaction with a suitably selected, unsymmetrically substituted anhydride; wherein A is a substituted alkyl; and wherein it is desired to have the substituent distal to the R¹X¹R²N portion of the compound of formula (I).

More specifically, a suitably substituted amine of formula (IX) is reacted with a suitably selected anhydride of the desired A substituent, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XVIII). When the compound of formula (IX) is coupled with a cyclic anhydride of the desired A substituent, such as glutaric anhydride and the like, the anhydride ring is subjected to ring opening, preferably at a temperature between about room temperature and about 110° C., in an organic solvent such as chloroform, toluene, and the like.

The compound of formula (XVIII) is coupled with a suitably substituted compound of formula (XVI), prepared as in Scheme 2 above, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM and the like, after conversion of the compound of formula (XVIII) to the corresponding acid chloride using a reagent such as thionyl chloride, oxalyl chloride, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ib).

Alternatively, the compound of formula (XVIII) may be coupled directly with a suitably substituted compound of formula (XVI), optionally in the presence of a coupling agent such as PyBrop, and the like, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM, and the like.

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X¹ and X³ are each absent, X² is carbonyl, and X⁴ is carbonyl or sulfonyl, may be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 4.

More specifically, an anhydride of the desired substituent A is reacted with a suitably substituted compound of formula (XIV), prepared as outlined in scheme 2, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XIX).

The compound of formula (XIX) is coupled with a suitably substituted amine of formula (IX), in the presence of a coupling agent, such as PyBOP, and the like, in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XX).

The compound of formula (XX) is selectively reduced, by known methods, for example, by reacting with sodium cyanoborohydride in AcOH (Tetrahedron Letters, 10, 763-66, 1976), to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXI).

The compound of formula (XXI) is reacted with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXII), wherein R^(3A) is a previously defined, or a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXIV), in an organic solvent such as THF, DMF, DCM and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ic).

Compounds of formula (I) wherein X¹ and X⁴ are each carbonyl or sulfonyl and X² and X³ are each absent, may be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 5. This process is particularly preferred for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein A is -cyclohexyl-methyl-, -cyclopentyl-methyl and -cyclopentenyl-methyl-.

Accordingly, a trityl-protected compound of formula (XXV), wherein A¹ is cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, aryl or alkyl-aryl, a known compound or compound prepared by known methods, [for example by the method disclosed in K. Barlos, D. Theodoropoulos, and D. Papaioannou in J. Org. Chem. 1982, 47, 1324-1326], is coupled to a suitably substituted compound of formula (XIV), prepared according to Scheme 2 above, using a coupling agent such as PyBOP, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXVI).

The compound of formula (XXVI) is subjected to reduction of the carbonyl group using known reducing agents, for example borane dimethylsulfide at reflux, lithium aluminum hydride in THF, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXVII).

The compound of formula (XXVII) is reacted with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXII), wherein R^(3A) is as previously defined, sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXIII) or carbonyl chloride of formula (XXIV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, toluene, chloroform, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXVIII).

The compound of formula (XXVIII) is deprotected by removal of the trityl protecting group, using a solution of trifluoroacetic acid in dichloromethane, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXIX).

The compound of formula (XXIX) is reacted with a suitably substituted aldehyde of formula (XXX), wherein R^(1A) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, and lower alkyl; wherein the alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl or amino group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl; by known methods, [for example by reductive amination or by the method of R. Mattson, et. al., in J. Org. Chem. 1990, 55, 2552-2554 using stepwise addition of titanium tetraisopropoxide neat or in a dichloromethane, followed by addition of methanol and sodiumcyanoborohydride], to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXI).

The compound of formula (XXXI) is reacted with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXXII), wherein R^(2A) is selected from aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, diarylalkyl, tri-halomethyl, arylamino or lower alkyl, or a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), or an anhydride of formula (XXXXVII) in an organic solvent such as DCM, toluene, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Id). When the compound of formula (XXXI) is reacted with a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), the reaction is carried out with further addition of an organic base such as TEA, DIPEA, and the like.

Compounds of formula (I) wherein A is a substituted alkyl may alternatively be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 6.

More specifically, a suitably substituted compound of formula (XVI), prepared as described in Scheme 2 above, is coupled with an appropriately selected, Fmoc protected compound of formula (XXXV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, DMF, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXVI).

The compound of formula (XXXVI) is deprotected by removal of the Fmoc protecting group by known methods [for example by treating with piperidine in DMF], to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXVII).

The compound of formula (XXXVII) is reacted with a suitably substituted aldehyde of formula (XXX), wherein R^(1A) is as previously defined, in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, and the like, under dehydrating conditions, for example in an acid alcohol solution such as acidic methanol or in a solution of titanium tetraisopropoxide in DCM, followed by addition of methanol and sodium cyanoborohydride, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXVIII).

The compound of formula (XXXVIII) is coupled with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXXII), wherein R^(2A) is as previously defined, sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII) or carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, and the like, in the presence of an organic base such as TEA, DIEA, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ie).

Optionally, the compound of formula (XXXVIII) may be further reacted with a second equivalent of the compound of formula (XXX) to yield a derivative of the compound of formula (XXXVIII), wherein the leftmost amine nitrogen is di-substituted with the —CH₂—R^(1A) group, wherein R^(1A) is as previously defined.

Compounds of formula (I), particularly those wherein X¹ and X³ are each absent, X² is carbonyl and X⁴ is carbonyl or sulfonyl may be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 7. This process is particularly preferred for preparation of compounds of formula (I) wherein A is contains a non-hydrogen substituent alpha to the right-hand most amine nitrogen.

Accordingly, a suitably substituted compound of formula (XV), prepared as in Scheme 2 above, is alkylated with an appropriately selected compound of formula (XXXIX), ins an organic solvent such as DCM, chloroform, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXX).

The compound of formula (XXXX) is coupled with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXII), wherein R^(3A) is as previously defined, sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXIII) or carbonyl chloride of formula (XXIV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXI). When the compound of formula (XXXX) is reacted with a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), the reaction is run in the presence of an organic base such as TEA, DIEA, and the like.

The compound of formula (XXXXI) is subjected to hydrolysis of the methyl ester, in the presence of an inorganic base such as sodium hydroxide, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXII).

The compound of formula (XXXXII) is coupled with a suitably substituted amine of formula (IX), in the presence of a coupling agent such as PyBOP, and the like, in an organic solvent such as DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (If).

Compounds of formula (I), particularly those wherein X¹ and X⁴ are each carbonyl or sulfonyl and X² and X³ are each absent may be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 8

Accordingly, wherein A¹ is an oxo and cyano substituted cycloalkyl, an oxo and cyano substituted cycloalkenyl, an oxo and cyano substituted cycloalkyl-alkyl, an oxo-alkyl and cyano substituted aryl or an oxo-alkyl and cyano-alkyl substituted aryl-alkyl, a known compound or compound prepared by known methods, is reacted with a compound of formula (XV), prepared as outlined in Scheme 2, in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, and the like, under dehydrating conditions, for example in an acid alcohol solution such as acidic methanol, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXIII).

The compound of formula (XXXXIII) is reacted with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXII), wherein R^(3A) is as previously defined, sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXIII) or carbonyl chloride of formula (XXIV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXIV). When the compound of formula (XXXXIII) is reacted with a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXIV), the reaction is run in the presence of an organic base such as TEA, DIEA, and the like.

The cyano functional group on the compound of formula (XXXXIV) is reduced by known methods, for example by treatment with lithium aluminum hydride, in an organic solvent such as THF, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXV).

The compound of formula (XXXXV) is reacted with a suitably substituted aldehyde of formula (XXX), wherein R^(1A) is as previously defined, in the presence of a reducing agent such as sodium cyanoborohydride, and the like, under dehydrating conditions, for example in an acid alcohol solution such as acidic methanol or in a solution of titanium tetraisopropoxide in DCM, followed by addition of methanol and sodium cyanoborohydride, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXVI).

The compound of formula (XXXXVI) is reacted with an appropriately selected and suitably substituted isocyanate of formula (XXXII), wherein R^(2A) is as previously defined, sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII), or carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), in an organic solvent such as DCM, and the like, to produce the corresponding compound of formula (Ig). When the compound of formula (XXXXVI) is reacted with a sulfonyl chloride of formula (XXXIII) or a carbonyl chloride of formula (XXXIV), the reaction is run in the presence of an organic base such as TEA, DIEA, and the like.

Compounds of formula (I) wherein R¹, X¹ and R² are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form an oxo substituted heterocyclyl group, may be prepared according to the process outlined in Scheme 9.

More particularly, the compound of formula (XXIX), prepared as in Scheme 5, is reacted with a suitably substituted symmetric or asymmetric anhydride, a compound of formula (XXXXVII), preferably a symmetric anhydride, in an organic solvent such as toluene, DCM, and the like, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (XXXXVIII).

The compound of formula (XXXXVIII) is heated at an elevated temperature in the range of about 40-180° C., or treated with addition of an anhydride such as acetic anhydride, trifluoroacetic anhydride, and the like, in an organic solvent such as methylene chloride, toluene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and the like, to yield the corresponding compound of formula (Ih), wherein

represents the group wherein R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form a cyclic oxo substituted heterocyclyl.

Wherein the compound of formula (XXXXVII) is an asymmetric anhydride, (a compound of the formula R²′—C(O)—C(O)—R²″, wherein R²′ and R²″ are different), the R² group which is coupled onto the compound of formula (XXIX) may be readily determined by one skilled in the art, based on the relative reactivities of the carbonyl groups adjacent to the R²′ and R²″ groups.

It is generally preferred that the respective product of each process step be separated from other components of the reaction mixture and subjected to purification before its use as a starting material in a subsequent step. Separation techniques typically include evaporation, extraction, precipitation and filtration. Purification techniques typically include column chromatography (Still, W. C. et. al., J. Org. Chem. 1978, 43, 2921), thin-layer chromatography, HPLC, acid-base extraction, crystallization and distillation.

Where the compounds according to this invention have at least one chiral center, they may accordingly exist as enantiomers. Where the compounds possess two or more chiral centers, they may additionally exist as diastereomers. It is to be understood that all such isomers and mixtures thereof are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

Where the processes for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention give rise to mixture of stereoisomers, these isomers may be separated by conventional techniques such as preparative chromatography. The compounds may be prepared in racemic form, or individual enantiomers may be prepared either by enantiospecific synthesis or by resolution. The compounds may, for example, be resolved into their component enantiomers by standard techniques, such as the formation of diastereomeric pairs by salt formation with an optically active acid, such as (−)-di-p-toluoyl-d-tartaric acid and/or (+)-di-p-toluoyl-l-tartaric acid followed by fractional crystallization and regeneration of the free base. The compounds may also be resolved by formation of diastereomeric esters or amides, followed by chromatographic separation and removal of the chiral auxiliary. Alternatively, the compounds may be resolved by enzymatic resolution or by using a chiral HPLC column.

To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention, one or more compounds or salts thereof, as the active ingredient, is intimately admixed with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques, which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, e.g., oral or parenteral. In preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed. Thus for liquid oral preparations, such as for example, suspensions, elixirs and solutions, suitable carriers and additives include water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like; for solid oral preparations such as, for example, powders, capsules and tablets, suitable carriers and additives include starches, sugars, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. If desired, tablets may be sugar coated or enteric coated by standard techniques. For parenterals, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, though other ingredients, for example, for purposes such as aiding solubility or for preservation, may be included. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared, in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. The pharmaceutical compositions herein will preferably contain per dosage unit, e.g., tablet, capsule, powder, injection, teaspoonful and the like, from about 5 to about 500 mg of the active ingredient, although other unit dosages may be employed.

In therapeutic use for treating disorders of the gastrointestinal system in mammals, the compounds of this invention may be administered in an amount of from about 0.5 to 100 mg/kg 1-2 times per day orally. In addition the compounds may be administered via injection at 0.1-10 mg/kg per day. Determination of optimum dosages for a particular situation is within the capabilities of formulators.

In order to illustrate the invention, the following examples are included. These examples do not limit the invention. They are meant to illustrate and suggest a method of practicing the invention. Although there are other methods of practicing this invention, those methods are deemed to be within the scope of this invention.

EXAMPLE 1 N-trityl-cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid

Adapting the method of K. Barlos, D. Papaioannou and D. Theodoropoulos, JOC, 1982, 47, 1324-1326, cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid was protected as the N-trityl derivative.

TMSCI (26.1 ml, 0.205 mmol) was added to a suspension of cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (29.4 g, 0.205 mmol) suspended in a 5:1 solution of CH₂Cl₂—CH₃CN (500 ml) at room temperature. The mixture was heated at reflux for 2 hours and then allowed to cool to ambient temperature. TEA (57.2 ml, 0.410 mmol) was added dropwise to the mixture, followed immediately by portionwise addition of triphenylmethyl chloride (57.2 g, 0.205 mmol). After stirring for 18 h, MeOH was added to the mixture to give a homogeneous solution. The mixture was evaporated down to dryness and the resultant residue partitioned between Et₂O and 10% citric acid (1:1, 800 ml total). The ether layer was collected and combined with an ether extraction (150 ml) of the citric acid layer. The combined ether fractions were then extracted with 2 M NaOH (3×250 ml) and water (1×100 ml). The aqueous layers were washed with ether (2×150 ml). After cooling to 0° C., the aqueous layer was acidified to pH 7 with concentrated HCl and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×200 ml). The combined extracts were dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated down to give a white foam, 67.4 g, 85% yield.

MS 384 (M⁻)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.44-0.95 (br m, 3H), 0.97-1.22 (br m, 2H), 1.30-1.48 (br m, 1H), 1.53-1.79 (br m, 2H), 1.8-2.04 (br m, 1H), 2.10-2.29 (br m, 1H), 6.95-7.24 (m, 9H), 7.36-7.59 (m, 6H).

EXAMPLE 2 1-(2-(3-nitrophenoxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine

Following the procedure disclosed in GB 924961; 1959; Chem. Abstr.; 59; 9883b; 1963.

3-nitrophenol (3.29 g, 23.7 mmol) in DMF (20 ml) was added dropwise to 60% NaH (2.65 g, 66.2 mmol) in 30 ml DMF at 0° C., under nitrogen. The reaction was stirred until H₂(g) evolution ceased. 1-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride (5.63 g, 33.1 mmol) was then added portionwise. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with 2N NaOH (50 ml) and the desired product extracted into ether (3×50 ml). The combined ether layers were washed (2×50 ml) with water, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was purified through a silica gel plug using 10% ethyl acetate/hexane to remove the impurities and then the desired product was eluted off with 40% ethyl acetate/hexane containing 2% Et₃N to yield a pale yellow oil.

MS 237 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.78-1.88 (m, 4H), 2.55-2.66 (m, 4H), 2.94 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 4.18 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 7.23-7.28 (m, 1H), 7.42 (virtual t, J=8.2 Hz, 1H), 7.75-7.76 (m, 1H), 7.80-7.83 (m, 1H).

EXAMPLE 2B 2-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidine

3-aminophenol (0.74 g, 6.8 mmol) in DMF (10 ml) was added dropwise to 95% NaH (0.49 g, 20.4 mmol) in 10 ml DMF at 0° C., under nitrogen. The reaction was stirred until H₂(g) evolution ceased. 2-(2-chloroethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidine hydrochloride (1.25 g, 6.8 mmol) was then added portionwise. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 h. The reaction mixture was quenched with 1N NaOH (50 ml) and the desired product extracted into ether (3×50 ml). The combined ether layers were washed (2×50 ml) with water, dried over MgSO₄, and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue was purified on silica gel by flash chromatography using 2% TEA in ethyl acetate to give an oil.

MS 221 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.46-2.31 (m, 8H), 2.34 (s, 3H), 3.08 (ddd, J=8.3, 7.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 3.64 (br s, 2H), 3.89-4.08 (m, 2H), 6.20-6.36 (m, 3H), 7.04 (t, J=8.0 Hz, 1H).

EXAMPLE 2C 1-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)piperidine

Following the procedure as described in Example 2B, 19.9 g (0.182 mol) of 3-aminophenol was converted into the title compound as a light yellow oil.

MS 221 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.38-1.50 (m, 2H), 1.52-1.66 (m, 4H), 2.43-2.56 (m, 4H), 2.75 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 2H), 3.65 (s br, 2H) 4.07 (t, J=6.1 Hz, 2H), 6.22-6.35 (m, 3H), 7.04 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H).

EXAMPLE 3 1-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine

A mixture of 1-(2-(3-nitrophenoxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine (3.49 g, 14.8 mmol), 10% palladium on carbon (400 mg) and ethyl acetate (20 ml) was reduced under 50 psi hydrogen for 10 h. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite 545 and the product extracted into 1M HCl (3×20 ml). The acidic layer was washed with ether (2×20 ml) and then the pH adjusted to >10 with 2M NaOH. The aqueous layer was extracted with ether (3×20 ml), dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. The product was eluted through a silica gel pad (75% ethyl acetate/hexane/1% Et₃N) to yield the product as a pale yellow oil.

MS 207 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.72-1.80 (m, 2H), 2.54-2.71 (m, 2H), 2.88 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 3.48-3.79 (br s, 2H), 4.07 (t, J=8.2Hz, 2H), 6.22-6.39 (m, 3H), 7.05 (virtual t, J=9.1 Hz,1H).

EXAMPLE 4 N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexylcarboxamide

Benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-pyrrolidino-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (PyBop) (4.8 g, 9.3 mmol) was added to a mixture of N-trityl-cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (3.3 g, 8.4 mmol), 1-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine (1.4 g, 7.0 mmol), DIEA (1.6 ml, 9.3 mmol) and dichloromethane (30 ml). After stirring overnight, the crude mixture was evaporated onto silica gel and purified by flash chromatography (20% EtOAc/2% Et₃N/hexane, then 60% EtOAc/2% Et₃N/hexane). The title compound was isolated as a white foam upon evaporation.

Yield: 3.2 g, 78%

MS 596 (MNa⁺), 574 (MH⁺), 332 (MH⁺-trt), 243 (trt⁺).

EXAMPLE 5 N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexylmethylamine

LAH (220 mg, 5.8 mmol) was added to N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-cis-(3-(triphenylmethyl)amino)cyclohexylmethylcarboxamide (2.1 g, 3.7 mmol) in THF (10 ml) under nitrogen at ambient temperature. The reaction was refluxed for 8 h, cooled to room temperature and quenched with a saturated solution of Rochelle's salt (potassium sodium tartrate). The precipitate was filtered away through Celite 545 leaving the crude product as an oil upon evaporation. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (20 ml), washed with water (2×20 ml) and dried over MgSO₄. Evaporation of the solvent yielded the product as a white foam.

MS 582 (MNa⁺), 560 (MH⁺), 318 (MH⁺-trt), 243 (trt⁺).

EXAMPLE 6 N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-[cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexylmethyl]-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide

4-fluorobenzoyl chloride (0.34 ml, 2.9 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 ml) was added dropwise to a solution of N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexylmethylamine (1.4 g, 2.6 mmol), triethylamine (0.40 ml, 2.9 mmol) and dichloromethane (10 ml). After 3 h the reaction was quenched with 2M NaOH (3 ml) and extracted with DCM (3×20 ml). The organic layers were combined, dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated onto silica gel in vacuo. The product was purified by chromatography on a silica gel column, preconditioned with Et₃N, using 50% EtOAc/2% Et₃N/hexane. The product was isolated as a white foam.

MS 682 (MH⁺), 440 (MH⁺-trt), 243 (trt⁺).

EXAMPLE 7 N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-[cis-(3-aminocyclohexyl)methyl]-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide

10% TFA/1% triethylsilane/DCM (35 ml) was added to N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-[cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexylmethyl]-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (1.75 g, 2.57 mmol). Upon completion, after 3 h, the desired product was extracted into 1 M HCl (3×20 ml). The extracts were washed with DCM (2×20 ml) and the aqueous layer (cooled to 0 C) made basic with NaOH. Extraction of the aqueous layer with EtOAc (3×20 ml) yielded, upon drying (MgSO₄) and evaporation, the product as a pale yellow oil.

MS 462 (MNa⁺), 440 (MH⁺).

EXAMPLE 8

To a stirred solution of N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-amino-cyclohexyl)methyl-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (1.0 g, 2.3 mmol) and benzaldehyde (0.26 ml, 2.5 mmol) in toluene (4 ml) was added titanium(IV) isopropoxide (0.82 ml, 2.8 mmol) under nitrogen. After 18 h, EtOH (0.8 ml) was added followed by portionwise addition of sodium triacetoxyborohydride (0.63 g, 2.8 mmol). After an additional 4 h of stirring, the reaction was quenched with 2M NaOH. The precipitate was filtered off through Celite 545, then dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-(benzylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide.

The crude residue (1.2 g) was taken up in DCM (4 ml), followed by addition of trimethylacetyl chloride (0.31 ml, 2.5 mmol). The reaction was complete in less than 2 h. The reaction was neutralized with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃, extracted with DCM (3×10 ml), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated onto silica gel. The product was purified by flash chromatography (50% EtOAc/1% Et₃N/hexane) to yield a white foam (690 mg). Addition of 1M HCl (1.2 ml, 1.2 mmol) in ether to the free base in ether (5 ml) yielded the product.

MS 614 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 4.11 min.)

EXAMPLE 9 N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl-N′-phenylurea

Phenylisocyanate (0.31 ml, 2.9 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-(triphenylmethylamino)-cyclohexyl)methylamine (1.4 g, 2.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (5 ml). After stirring for 18 h, the reaction mixture was evaporated onto silica gel. The title product was isolated by chromatography (50% EtOAc/hexane, then 60% EtOAc/2% Et₃N/hexane) as a white foam.

MS 679 (MH⁺), 437 (MH⁺-trt), 243 (trt⁺).

EXAMPLE 10

By the method of example 7 and 8, N-(3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-(triphenylmethyl)aminocyclohexyl)methyl-N′-phenylurea, benzaldehyde and trimethylaacetyl chloride were reacted to yield the title compound.

MS 437 (MH⁺).

EXAMPLE 11 N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-[(cis-3-(3-nitrobenzyl)aminocyclohexylmethyl]-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide

To a stirred solution of N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-aminocyclohexyl)methyl-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (5.3 g, 12 mmol) and 3-nitrobenzaldehyde (2.0 g, 13 mmol) in DCM (30 ml) was added titanium(IV) isopropoxide (4.6 ml, 16 mmol) under nitrogen. After 3 h, EtOH (20 ml) was added followed by portionwise addition of sodium cyanoborohydride (1.0 g, 16 mmol). The reaction was stirred overnight, then quenched with 2M NaOH. The resulting precipitate was filtered off through Celite 545, the filtrate was dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated in vacuo to yield crude product.

MS 591 (MH+).

EXAMPLE 12

Trichloroacetyl chloride (0.93 ml, 8.3 mmol) was added to crude N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-[(cis-3-(3-nitrobenzyl)aminocyclohexylmethyl]-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (4.9 g, 8.3 mmol) taken up in DCM (20 ml). The reaction was complete in less than 2 h. The reaction was neutralized with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃, extracted into DCM (3×15 ml), dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated onto silica gel. The product was purified by chromatography (50% EtOAc/2% Et₃N/hexane) to yield the title compound as a white foam.

MS 736 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 4.11 min.).

EXAMPLE 13 N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-{(cis3-(benzylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl}-N′-phenylurea

By the method of example 11, N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-aminocyclohexyl)methyl-N′-phenylurea and benzaldehyde were converted into the title compound.

MS 543 (MH⁺).

EXAMPLE 14

By the method of example 9, N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-{(cis-3-(benzylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl}-N′-phenylurea and phenylisocyanate were converted into the title compound.

MS 662 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 4.38 min.).

EXAMPLE 15

By the method of example 12, N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-{(cis-3-(benzylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl}-N′-phenylurea and 2-naphthalenesulfonyl chloride were converted into the title compound.

MS 733 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 4.97 min.).

EXAMPLE 16

By the method of example 12, N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-cis-3-(aminocyclohexyl)methyl}-N′-phenylurea and trichloroacetyl chloride were converted into the title compound.

MS 599 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 3.59 min.).

EXAMPLE 17 1-(2-(3-amino-2-methylphenoxy)ethyl)pyrrolidine

By the method of examples 2 and 3, 1-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine hydrochloride and 2-methyl-3-nitrophenol were converted into the title compound.

MS 221 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 1.75-1.86 (m, 4H), 2.05 (s, 3H), 2.62-2.67 (m, 4H), 2.92 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 3.60 (br s, 2H), 4.09 (t, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 6.33 (virtual d, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 6.95 (virtual t, J=9.1 Hz, 1H).

EXAMPLE 18 4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine

By the method of examples 2 and 3, 4-(2-chloroethyl)morpholine hydrochloride and 3-nitrophenol were converted into the title compound.

MS 223 (MH⁺)

EXAMPLE 19 N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine

4-fluorobenzaldehyde (1.3 ml, 12 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of 4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (2.2 g, 10 mmol) in 2% AcOH/MeOH (40 ml). After 1 h, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.50 g, 12 mmol) was added portionwise to the mixture. After an additional 2 h, 2M NaOH (20 ml) was added and the mixture evaporated to give a tan residue. The residue was partitioned between 1N HCl and ether. The acid layer was washed 2×40 ml with ether and then adjusted to a pH>10 with NaOH. The product was extracted into ethyl acetate (3×50 ml), dried over magnesium sulfate and evaporated down to yield the title compound as a brown oil.

MS 331 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 2.50-2.65 (m, 4H), 2.76 (t, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 3.68-3.82 (m, 4H), 4.01-4.16 (m, 3H), 4.29 (d, J=5.3 Hz, 2H), 6.18 (s, 1H), 6.22-6.33 (m, 2H), 6.97-7.13 (m, 3H), 7.29-7.40 (m, 2H).

EXAMPLE 20

N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-4-(2-(3-amino-phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (260 mg, 0.79 mmol) and glutaric anhydride (95 mg, 0.79 mmol) were combined and refluxed in chloroform (3 ml) overnight. To the organic solution at ambient temperature was added, N-benzylphenethylamine (170 mg, 0.79 mmol), DIEA (0.28 ml, 1.6 mmol) and PyBOP (420 mg, 0.80 mmol). The sample was concentrated down upon completion (<3 h). Chromatography on silica gel with 1% MeOH in ethyl acetate provided the title compound.

MS 638 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 4.32 min.)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) (approximately 1:1 mixture of rotomers) δ 1.85-2.01 (m, 2H), 2.08-2.22 (m, 2H), 2.26-2.43 (m, 2H), 2.78 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 2.9-3.13 (m, 2H), 3.32-3.74 (m, 6H), 3.88-4.05 (m, 4H), 4.24-4.42 (m, 3H), 4.54 (s, 1H), 4.75-4.88 (m, 2H), 6.45 (s, 1H), 6.59 (t, J=6.2 Hz, 1H), 6.78-7.00 (m, 3H), 7.03-7.39 (m, 13H).

EXAMPLE 21 N-(3-nitrophenyl)methyl)phenethylamine

Sodium cyanoborohydride (0.18 g, 2.7 mmol) was added to a preformed imine of phenethylamine (0.28 g, 2.3 mmol) and 3-nitrobenzaldehyde (0.38 g, 2.5 mmol) in 2% AcOH-MeOH. The reaction was quenched after 4 h with a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The resultant residue was partitioned between water and dichloromethane (20 ml total). The aqueous layer extracted with DCM (3×20 ml), the organic extracts were combined and dried over sodium sulfate. The crude material was used without further purification.

MS 257 (MH⁺).

EXAMPLE 22 N-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)-N-[3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)-2-methylphenyl]-N′-(2-phenethyl)-1,5-pentyldiamide

A solution of N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-1-(2-(3-amino-2-methylphenoxy)-ethyl)pyrrolidine (4.85 g, 14.8 mmol) and glutaric anhydride (2.02 g, 17.7 mmol) in toluene (30 ml) was heated to reflux. After 12 h the reaction was concentrated in vacuo. PyBop (430 mg, 0.81 mmol)was added to the solution of crude N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl-N-3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)-2-methylphenylcarboxamidopentyric acid (330 mg, 0.74 mmol) and phenethylamine (90 mg, 0.74 mmol) in DMF (2 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred overnight, diluted with 2 M NaOH and then extracted with ether (3×20 ml). The combined extracts were washed with a brine solution and dried over MgSO₄. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel using 80% ethyl acetate/2% Et₃N/hexane as eluent to yield the title compound as a brown oil.

MS 546 (MH⁺).

EXAMPLE 23

60% sodium hydride (˜3 mg, 0.07 mmol) was added to N-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)-N-[3-(2-(1-pyrrolidino)ethyloxy)-2-methylphenyl]-N′-(2-phenethyl)-1,5-pentyldiamide (30 mg, 0.06 mmol) in DMF (1 ml). After 10 min, methyl-3-(bromomethyl)benzoate (16 mg, 0.07 mmol) was added to the stirred solution. The reaction was quenched with sodium bicarbonate after 18 h and then extracted (3×15 ml) into ether. The title product was isolated by semi-prep HPLC (C-18 column, 30% CH₃CN/water/0.1% TFA to 60% CH₃CN/water/0.1% TFA). Note: the methyl ester was hydrolyzed under the acidic mobile phase conditions.

MS 680 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 3.53 min.)

EXAMPLE 24 N-(3-tert-butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)4-fluorobenzylamine

By the method of example 19, 4-fluorobenzaldehyde (4.41 g, 35.5 mmol) and 3-aminophenol (3.60 g, 32.3 mmol) were reacted to yield a clear oil (6.75 g) upon silica gel purification (15% ethyl acetate/hexane).

MS 218 (MH+).

The resultant N-3-hydroxyphenyl-4-fluorobenzylamine (4.25 g, 19.6 mmol) and imidazole (1.33 g, 19.6 mmol) were combined in DMF (20 ml) and treated with tetrabutyldimethylsilyl chloride (3.05 g, 19.6 mmol). After 5 h, the reaction was diluted with saturated NaHCO₃ and extracted with ether. The ether layers were combined, washed with water and dried over MgSO₄. The title product was isolated by flash chromatography (15% EA/hexane) as a clear oil (3.75 g, 58%).

MS 332 (MH+)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.12 (s, 6H), 0.81 (s, 9H), 3.84 (br s, 1H), 4.12 (s, 2H), 5.96 (t, J=2.2 Hz, 1H), 6.10 (td, J=8.0, 2.2 Hz, 2H), 6.84-6.91 (m, 3H), 7.16-7.21 (m, 2H).

EXAMPLE 25 N-((4-fluorophenyl)methyl)-N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N′-(2-phenethyl)-N′-benzyl-1,5-pentyldiamide (#175)

N-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)-N-(3-tert-butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)-N′-(2-phenethyl)-N′-benzyl-1,5-pentyldiamide (4.2 g, 6.6 mmol), prepared by method of example 20, in THF (10 ml) was treated with 1 M TBAF (7.3 ml, 7.3 mmol). The reaction, complete in less than 15 h, was quenched with 0.1 M HCl. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (3×30 ml) and the organic layers dried over MgSO₄. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography using 50% ethyl acetate/hexane as eluent. The title compound was recovered as a clear oil.

MS 525 (MH⁺)

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) (approximately 1:1 mixture of rotomers) δ 1.84-2.02 (m, 2H), 2.08-2.21 (m, 2H), 2.25 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 2.34 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 2.72-2.86 (m, 2H), 3.38-3.59 (m, 2H), 4.37 (s, 1H), 4.55 (s, 1H), 4.76 (s, 1H), 4.78 (s, 1H), 6.40 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 1H), 6.52 (m, 1H), 6.77-6.93 (m, 3H), 7.03-7.39 (m, 13H), 8.41 (s, 1H).

EXAMPLE 26

To N-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl)-N-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N′-(2-phenethyl)-N′-benzyl-1,5-pentyldiamide (75 mg, 0.14 mmol) in THF (1 ml) was added 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine (22 mg, 0.17 mmol), tri-n-butylphosphine (0.14 ml, 0.57 mmol), and ADDP (86 mg, 0.34 mmol). After 18 h the reaction was diluted with a solution of saturated sodium bicarbonate and then extracted into ethyl acetate (3×15 ml). The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated down to an oil. The title product was isolated by semi-prep HPLC (C-18 column, 30% CH₃CN/water/0.1% TFA to 60% CH₃CN/water/0.1% TFA).

MS 637 (MH⁺); HPLC (RT 3.34 min.).

EXAMPLE 27 N-[3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethoxy)phenyl]-N′-(2-phenethyl)-N′-benzyl-1,4-butyldiamide

Applying the procedure used in Example 20, with substitution of 4-(2-(3-aminophenoxyethyl)morpholine and succinic anhydride for N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine and glutaric anhydride respectively, yielded the title compound as a white solid.

MS 516 (MH⁺)

EXAMPLE 28

N-[3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethoxy)phenyl]-N′-(2-phenethyl)-N′-benzyl-1,4-butyldiamide (0.39 g, 0.75 mmol) was dissolved in a solution of sodium borohydride (0.14 g, 3.8 mmol) in THF (4 mL). Acetic acid (0.22 ml, 3.75 mmol) was slowly added to the reaction mixture at 0° C. After 18 h, the reaction was quenched with 1N HCl, neutralized with saturated sodium bicarbonate and the THF layer collected. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄, filtered and then treated with phenyl isocyanate (0.080 ml, 0.75 mmol) to yield crude solid product. The crude material was purified by flash chromatography using 50% ethyl acetate/hexane as eluent. The title compound was recovered as a clear oil.

MS 621 (MH⁺);

¹H NMR (CD₃OD) (approximately 1:1 mixture of rotomers) δ 1.72-1.97 (m, 2H), 2.25 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.45 (t, J=6.8 Hz, 1H), 2.73-2.94 (m, 2H), 3.18-3.42 (m, 2H), 3.48-3.91 (m, 10H), 3.97-4.15 (m, 2H), 4.40 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 2H), 4.49 (s, 1H), 4.63 (s, 1H), 6.89-7.06 (m, 4H), 7.09-7.48 (m, 15H).

EXAMPLE 29 2,2-dimethylpropylbenzylamine

Step A: N-3-chlorobenzyltrimethylacetamide

3-chlorobenzylamine (3.54 g, 25 mmol) was added dropwise to trimethylacetyl chloride (2.65 ml, 21.5 mmol) and Et₃N (3.5 ml, 25 mmol) in DCM (25 ml). After two hours, the reaction mixture was washed with 1 N HCl and the organic layer collected and dried over MgSO₄. N-3-chlorobenzyltrimethylacetamide was precipitated from DCM/hexane as a white solid, 3.95 g,

MS 192 (MH⁺).

Step B:

N-benzyltrimethylacetamide (2.35 g, 12.3 mmol) in THF (10 ml) was refluxed with 1M borane-tetrahydrofuran (13.5 ml) for 15 hours. The reaction was quenched with 1N HCl, washed with ether, and the aqueous layer adjusted to a pH>10. The aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc and the organic layers combined and dried over MgSO₄.

The title compound may be alternatively be prepared according to the procedure described in Overman, Larry E.; Burk, Robert M.; TELEAY; Tetrahedron Lett.; 25; 16; 1984; 1635-1638

EXAMPLE 30

EDCl-MeI (0.33 g, 1.1 mmol) was added to N-(4-fluorophenylmethyl)-4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (0.27 g, 0.83 mmol) (Prepared in Example 19), and Fmoc-L-Phe-OH (0.39 g, 1.0 mmol) in CHCl₃ (15 mL). After 8 h, the reaction was diluted with a saturated solution of NaHCO₃, extracted with DCM and dried over MgSO₄. The desired product was isolated by flash chromatography (50-100% EA/hexane) to yield a white solid.

MH+700.

EXAMPLE 31

The product prepared in Example 29, (31 mg, 0.044 mmol) was dissolved in DCM (1 mL) and deprotected with piperidine (7.4 μl, 0.082 mmol) to yield a white solid upon evaporation.

MH+478.

The crude product was then dissolved along with benzaldehyde (16 μl, 0.16 mmol) in 2% AcOH /MeOH (1 ml). To this solution was added NaBH₃CN (20 mg, 0.32 mmol) in two portions. After 1 h, the solvent was evaporated and the residue partitioned between 1N HCl and ether. The aqueous layer was washed with ether, adjusted to pH ˜10 with 2N NaOH and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated down. Hydrocinnamoyl chloride (12 μl, 0.08 mmol) was then added to the residue dissolved in DCM (2 ml) and DIEA (16 μl, 0.09 mmol). The title compound was isolated by semi-prep HPLC as the TFA salt.

MH+700; HPLC (RT 5.16 mins).

EXAMPLE 32

4-(2-(3-amino-phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (389 mg, 1.75 mmol) and methyl 3-bromomethylbenzoate (482 mg, 2.1 mmol) were reacted in CHCl₃ (5 mL), that contained Et₃N (293 μl, 2.1 mmol). The reaction was refluxed for 16 h, until completion,as evidenced by disappearance of the starting aniline derivative on TLC (Rf 0.5 for product, ethyl acetate eluent)).

MS (MH+) 371

The reaction mixture was cooled and then treated with Et₃N (293 μl, 2.1 mmol) and 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride (207 μl, 1.75 mmol). Upon completion, the reaction mixture was quenched with 1N NaOH and extracted 3 times with DCM. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated down onto silica gel. The title compound was isolated by flash chromatography (gradient from 80% EA/hexane to 100% EA) to yield a white solid.

MS (MH+) 493

EXAMPLE 33

The compound prepared in Example 31 (375 mg, 0.82 mmol) was refluxed in a mixture of 10% NaOH/EtOH (30 ml). After 2 h, the EtOH was evaporated under vacuum. The residue was diluted with 2N NaOH and washed with ether. The aqueous layer was then acidified to pH 1 with concentrated HCl and extracted with DCM. The organic layer was dried over MgSO4 and evaporated down. The residue was dissolved in DCM (10 mL) and partitioned into ten aliquots. One aliquot was treated with phenethylamine (12 mg, 0.10 mmol) and EDCl-MeI (29 mg, 0.10 mmol). After 16 h, the reaction mixture was washed 2× with water and evaporated down to yield a brown residue. The title compound was isolated by semi-prep HPLC (reverse phase, C-18) as the TFA salt.

MH+582; HPLC (RT 3.41 mins).

EXAMPLE 34 N-3-cyanocyclopentyl-4-(2-(3-amino-phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine

4-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (2.15 g, 9.67 mmol) and 3-cyanocyclopentanone (1.06 g, 9.67 mmol) (prepared according to the process decsribed by Della, E.; Knill, A.; Aust. J. Chem.; 47; 10; 1994; 1833-1842) were combined in 1% AcOH/MeOH (50 ml). To this solution was added NaBH₃CN (925 mg, 14.5 mmol) in portions. After 12 h, the solvent was evaporated off and the residue partitioned between saturated NaHCO₃ and ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate, the combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated down. The title compound was purified by flash chromatography with ethyl acetate as the eluent, 2.1 g

MS (MH+) 316.

EXAMPLE 35

Phenylisocyanate (0.65 ml, 5.9 mmol) was added to N-3-cyanocyclopentyl4-(2-(3-amino-phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine (1.88 g, 5.95 mmol) partially dissolved in THF (25 ml) at room temperature. After 15 h, crude material was placed on a silica gel column and eluted with ethyl acetate to give 680 mg of a yellow oil.

MS (MH+) 435.

EXAMPLE 36

The product prepared in Example 34 (0.65 g, 1.5 mmol) dissolved in THF (10 ml) was added to 1M LAH (4.5 ml) at −78° C. and allowed to warm to room temperature. After 15 h, the reaction was quenched with a saturated solution of Rochelle's salt (potassium sodium tartrate). The precipitate was filtered away through Celite 545 to yield the crude product as an oil upon evaporation. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc, washed with water and dried over MgSO₄. Evaporation of the solvent yielded the product as an oil.

(MH+) 439

EXAMPLE 37

Sodium cyanoborohydride (34 mg, 0.54 mmol) was added to the product prepared in Example 35 (78 mg, 0.18 mmol) and 3-chlorobenzaldehyde (40 μl, 0.36 mmol) in 1% AcOH/MeOH (2 ml). After 6 hours the reaction was acidified with 1N HCl, then neutralized with 2N NaOH and extracted into dichloromethane.

(MH+) 563.

The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄, cooled to 0° C. and then treated with trichloroacetyl chloride (20 μl, 0.18 mmol). The final product was isolated by flash chromatography (ethyl acetate).

(MH+) 707

EXAMPLE 38

N-trityl-cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (13.1 g, 34 mmol) was added to a solution of PyBop (17.7 g, 34 mmol) and DIEA (11.8 ml, 68 mmol) in DCM (70 mL) and stirred for 10 minutes. 1-(2-(3-aminophenoxy)ethyl)piperidine (6.8 g, 30.9 mmol) in DCM (30 mL) was added to the reaction mixture over the course of 20 mins. The coupled product was purified by flash chromatography (25% ethyl acetate/1% Et₃N/hexane) and evaporated down to yield a white foam.

The foam was dissolved in THF (100 mL), treated with LAH (1.3 g, 34 mmol) and refluxed for 7 hrs. Upon cooling, the reaction mixture was alternately quenched with NaOH and water to yield a granular solid. The heterogenous reaction mixture was then filtered through Celite 545. The reduced product was extracted into ether from water. The combined organic layers were dried over MgSO₄ and evaporated to dryness.

The crude product and Et₃N (4.7 ml, 34 mmol) were dissolved in DCM (100 mL). 4-fluorobenzoyl chloride (4.0 ml, 34 mmol) of was added dropwise to this solution. After 2 hours the reaction mixture was evaporated onto silica gel and then purified by flash chromatography (20% ethyl acetate/1% Et₃N/hexane) to yield the title compound.

EXAMPLE 39

The compound prepared as in Example 38, was dissolved in 20% TFA/1% TES/DCM and stirred for 1 hr. The reaction mixture was evaporated down to dryness. The crude material was partitioned between ether and 1N HCl. The aqueous solution was washed twice with ether, cooled to 0° C. and the pH adjusted to 12 with NaOH. The deprotected amine was extracted into DCM and dried over MgSO₄.

Following the procedure as described in Example 8, the deprotected amine, 3-chlorobenzaldehyde and trichloroacetyl chloride were reacted to yield the title compound. The enantiomers were separated using a Chiralpak AD HPLC column.

EXAMPLE 40

N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-aminocyclohexyl)methyl-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (83 mg, 0.18 mmol) and 3,3-dimethylglutaric anhydride (28 mg, 0.20 mmol) were combined and heated at 90° C. in toluene (2 mL) for two hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by semi-prep HPLC (C18 column, acetonitrile/water/0.1% TFA) to yield the title compound.

EXAMPLE 41

N-(3-(2-(4-morpholino)ethyloxy)phenyl)-N-(cis-3-aminocyclohexyl)methyl-4-fluorophenylcarboxamide (83 mg, 0.18 mmol) and phthalic anhydride (30 mg, 0.20 mmol) were dissolved in toluene (2 mL). The reaction was heated at 90° C. for two hours. To the reaction was then added acetic anhydride (0.2 ml, 2.1 mmol) and the reaction refluxed for an additional 15 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and purified by semi-prep HPLC (C18 column, acetonitrile/water/0.1% TFA) to yield the title compound as a white solid.

EXAMPLE 42 In Vitro Testing

Motilin Receptor Binding

Rabbit colon was removed, dissected free from the mucosa and serosa, and diced into small pieces. The muscle tissue was homogenized in 10 volumes of 50 mM Tris-Cl, 10 mM MgCl₂, 0.1 mg/ml bacitracin, and 0.25 mM Peflabloc, at pH 7.5 in a Polytron (29000 rpm, 4×15 seconds). The homogenate was centrifuged at 1000×g for 15 minutes and the supernatant discarded. The pellet was washed twice before being suspended in homogenizing buffer. The crude homogenate was resuspended through a 23 gauge needle before storing at −80° C. In a total volume of 0.5 ml, the binding assay contained the following components: buffer (50 mM Tris-Cl, 10 mM MgCl₂, 1 mM EDTA, 15 mg/ml BSA, 5 mg/ml of pepstatin, leupeptin, aprotinin, and 0.15 mg/ml bacitracin), I¹²⁵ radio-labeled porcine motilin (50000-70000 cpm; specific activity 2000 Ci/mmole), test compound, and membrane protein. After 60 minutes at 30° C., the samples were cooled in ice, centrifuged in the cold at 13000×g for 1 minute. The pellet was washed twice with 1 ml of cold saline, the supernatant was aspirated, and the pellet at the bottom of the tube counted in a gamma counter. Non-specific binding was determined by the inclusion of 1 mM of unlabeled motilin. IC₅₀ values were determined from Kaleidograph curves.

EXAMPLE 43 In Vitro Testing

Human Antrum Tissue

Human antrum tissue from Analytical Biological Services (Wilmington, Del.) was prepared as a motilin receptor preparation in the following manner. The muscle tissue was homogenized in 10 volumes of 50 mM Tris-Cl, 10 mM MgCl₂, 0.1 mg/ml bacitracin, and 0.25 mM Peflabloc, pH 7.5) in a Polytron (29000 rpm, 4×15 seconds). The homogenate was centrifuged at 1000×g for 15 minutes and the supernatant discarded. The pellet was washed twice before being suspended in homogenizing buffer. The crude homogenate was resuspended through a 23 gauge needle before aliquoting and storing at −80° C. The human cloned receptor was prepared from HEK 293 cells overexpressed with the motilin receptor. Cell pellets were thawed and resuspended in 2-3 volumes of homogenizing buffer (10 mM Tris-Cl, 0.2 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM KCl, 5 μg/ml aprotinin, leupeptin, and pepstatin A, and 50 μg/ml bacitracin, pH 7.5) and allowed to sit on ice for 15-20 minutes. The suspension was homogenized on ice in a Dounce type homogenizer using 15 strokes. Sucrose and EDTA were added to a final concentration of 0.25M and 1 mM, respectively, and mixed with a few additional strokes. The material was centrifuged at 400×g for 5 minutes, and the supernatant saved. The pellet was re-resuspended twice with 5 ml homogenizing buffer and rehomogenized as before, and the supernatants combined. The supernatant was centrifuged at 100000×g for 1 hour. The pellet is retained and resuspended with 5 ml of homogenizing buffer through a 19 g and 25 g needle. The suspension is aliquoted and stored at −80° C. until used. The binding assay contains the following components (50 mM HEPES, 5 mM MgCl₂, and 1 mM EGTA, pH 7.0, 15 mg/ml BSA, 10 μg/ml aprotinin, leupeptin, and pepstatin A, 0.25 mg/ml bacitracin, and 10 mM benzamidine), 125I-radiolabelled porcine motilin (50000-70000 cpm; specific activity 2000 Ci/mmol), test compound, and membrane protein. After 60 minutes at 30° C., the samples are placed on ice and centrifuged for 1 minute at 13000×g. The pellet is washed twice with 1 ml cold saline, and after removal of the final supernatant, the pellet at the bottom of the tube is counted in a gamma counter. Non-specific binding is measured by the inclusion of 1 μM unlabelled motilin. IC₅₀ values were determined from Kaleidograph curves.

125I-Motilin Binding to Human Antral Stomach Membranes and the Human Cloned Receptor:

Human Antrum IC₅₀(nM) 1.0 ± 0.1 Human Cloned Receptor IC₅₀(nM) 3.55 ± 0.05

EXAMPLE 44 In Vivo Testing

Rabbit Tissue Bath Procedure

One New Zealand White rabbit (Covance) of either sex was euthanized with an IV injection of Sleepaway. The duodenum was quickly excised, the lumen rinsed with saline to clean, and the tissue placed in cold, aerated (95% O2-5% CO₂) Tyrodes buffer (NaCl 136.9 mM, KCl 2.7 mM, CaCl₂ 1.8 mM, MgCl₂ 1.04 mM, NaH₂PO₄ 0.42 mM, NaHCO₃ 11.9 mM, Glucose 5.55 mM, pH 7.4). The duodenum, being kept moist at all times, was cleaned of any excess mesenteric tissue, and then cut into 3 cm segments starting at the proximal end. Sixteen tissue segments were usually prepared from each duodenum. These segments were tied on both ends with 3-0 silk suture (Ethicon). One end of the tissue was attached to an S-hook on a custom made glass support rod (Crown Glass Co., Somerville) and the rod plus tissue were placed in a 15 ml isolated tissue bath (Radnoti). The other end of the glass rod was attached to a Grass Force Displacement Transducer FT03. The tissue was maintained in room temperature Tyrodes buffer pH 7.4 and continually gassed with 95% O₂— 5% CO₂. The tissues were adjusted to 1.0 g resting tension and maintained at that tension throughout the equilibration period. An MI2 Tissue Bath Computer was used to record and analyze data.

The tissues were washed twice during a 30 minute equilibration period and readjusted to 1 g resting tension as necessary. After equilibration the tissues were challenged with 3 μM Carbachol (Carbamoyicholine Chloride-Sigma). After maximal contraction was attained, the tissues were washed 3 times with Tyrodes. The tissues were allowed a 20 minute resting/equilibration period, during which time they were washed once and readjusted to 1 g resting tension. The tissues were challenged a second time with 3 μM Carbachol, and this contraction was considered as maximal, or 100% contraction. The tissues were washed 3 times, equilibrated for 10 minutes, washed again and readjusted to 1 g resting tension. Vehicle or test compound in 30% DMSO-50 mM HEPES was added directly to the bath and the tissues were incubated for 20 minutes. Test compounds and vehicle were run in duplicate. The tissues were then challenged with 3 nM Porcine Motilin (Bachem) and when maximum contraction was attained another 3 μM aliquot of Carbachol was added to see if the test compound inhibited this contraction.

The percent inhibition by test compound of the motilin induced contraction was calculated by first determining the ratio of the vehicle contractions with Motilin compared to the Carbachol contractions. This Tissue Adjustment Factor (TAF) was used to determine the value for the potential uninhibited contraction with Motilin for each tissue. The percent inhibition was then determined by dividing the actual Motilin contraction in treated tissues by the potential uninhibited contraction and subtracting this number from 1. IC₅₀ values were determined by graphing results with Kaleidograph graphing program.

Tables 18 and 19 below list molecular weight, % Inhibition and IC₅₀ values measured for select compounds of the present invention.

TABLE 18 Mol. Wt. * Rabbit Colon Human Antrum Tissues ID Cal'd (MH⁺) % Inh @ 1 mM IC₅₀ (μM) % Inh @ 1 μM IC₅₀ (μM) IC₅₀ (μM) 1 621 621 35 2 656 656 9 3 620 620 35 4 624 624 75 0.69 5 635 635 40 6 634 634 24 7 638 638 42 8 545 545 18 9 580 580 27 10 544 544 29 11 548 548 0 12 594 594 4 13 558 558 21 14 562 562 25 15 531 531 21 16 566 566 21 17 530 530 12 18 534 534 0 19 545 545 5 20 580 580 8 21 544 544 34 22 548 548 23 23 607 607 48 24 642 642 6 25 606 606 23 26 621 621 22 27 656 656 22 28 620 620 13 29 624 624 18 30 559 559 17 31 594 594 39 32 558 558 12 33 562 562 16 34 573 573 7 35 608 608 17 36 572 572 32 37 576 576 11 39 709 707 4 40 662 662 11 41 677 677 58 42 627 627 50 43 675 675 74 0.73 44 697 697 4 45 692 692 67 1.16 46 737 737 32 47 723 721 23 48 637 637 67 0.656 49 817 817 37 50 757 757 32 51 711 711 73 0.65 52 661 661 45 53 709 709 52 54 731 731 42 55 726 726 48 56 771 771 27 57 733 733 15 58 706 705 38 59 757 755 23 60 757 755 65 0.66 61 718 717 55 62 756 755 58 63 723 721 55 64 738 737 32 65 733 732 80 0.035 0.027 66 757 755 39 67 688 687 75 0.957 68 689 688 73 0.66 69 572 572 0 70 547 547 0 71 643 643 43 72 598 597 40 73 549 549 25 74 693 693 29 75 633 633 19 76 587 587 26 77 537 537 19 78 585 585 10 79 607 607 39 80 602 602 34 81 647 647 56 82 783 783 0 83 723 723 3 86 697 697 16 90 692 691 95 0.49 >0.3 91 601 600 36 92 760 758 80 93 736 735 100 0.09 0.0205 94 741 740 28 95 726 724 51 96 759 758 71 1.68 >.03 97 721 720 56 98 760 758 75 0.76 99 760 758 62 0.572 100 709 708 78 101 774 774 59 102 729 729 47 103 734 734 2 104 712 712 30 105 664 664 80 0.39 0.03 106 714 714 69 1.05 107 820 820 29 108 676 676 70 0.815 109 760 760 27 110 718 718 35 111 726 724 72 0.88 112 740 740 70 0.48 113 695 695 51 114 700 700 49 115 678 678 26 116 630 630 61 0.772 117 680 680 17 118 726 726 58 119 786 786 22 120 642 642 69 0.954 121 684 684 37 122 691 690 64 0.84 123 736 736 8 124 640 640 70 0.904 125 665 665 25 128 624 624 75 0.23 129 638 638 90 0.058 130 610 610 8 131 623 622 19 132 658 658 10 133 672 672 6 134 626 626 0 135 694 694 8 136 672 672 43 137 644 644 30 138 582 582 36 139 586 586 13 140 638 638 45 141 672 672 21 142 670 670 17 143 596 596 0 144 638 638 54 145 590 590 35 146 654 654 32 147 688 688 61 0.49 148 622 622 19 149 699 699 27 150 680 680 0 151 713 712 1 152 700 700 0 153 636 636 89 0.081 0.03 154 692 692 62 0.41 155 676 676 34 156 554 554 18 157 642 642 16 158 601 600 37 159 652 652 83 0.275 160 652 652 61 0.96 161 664 664 22 162 672 672 85 0.178 0.021 163 658 658 85 0.174 0.019 164 624 624 84 0.194 0.048 165 624 624 63 0.55 166 636 636 23 167 674 674 42 168 640 640 36 169 638 638 97 0.046 0.24 170 638 638 81 0.163 0.185 171 650 650 63 0.462 0.23 172 688 688 40 173 654 654 84 0.29 0.28 174 692 691 0 175 525 525 0 176 636 636 32 177 640 640 52 >1.0 178 624 624 100 0.07 0.015 179 637 637 85 0.24 0.023 180 622 622 99 0.014 0.011 181 596 596 100 0.093 0.012 182 636 636 94 0.022 0.053 183 661 661 2 184 711 711 6 185 671 671 0 186 722 722 0 187 610 610 100 0.229 188 650 650 100 0.247 0.092 189 652 652 70 0.3 190 666 666 99 0.2 0.067 191 622 622 27 192 638 638 15 193 650 650 7 194 596 596 23 195 624 624 62 196 636 636 100 0.006 0.004 197 667 667 85 0.009 0.0076 198 672 672 100 0.107 199 691 690 91 0.1 200 690 690 92 0.041 201 657 657 93 0.057 0.0168 202 691 690 100 0.33 0.23 203 649 649 98 0.24 204 662 662 89 0.029 0.003 205 683 683 76 0.1 206 688 688 60 0.77 207 636 636 87 0.064 208 734 733 91 0.009 0.048 209 724 722 84 0.059 0.021 210 689 688 90 0.086 0.024 211 720 719 100 0.014 0.072 212 710 708 89 0.058 0.036 213 675 674 84 0.058 0.027 214 614 614 95 0.029 0.024 215 680 680 100 0.084 216 600 600 100 217 634 634 98 218 661 660 98 0.024 0.035 219 706 705 98 0.0076 220 636 636 92 0.042 221 598 598 94 223 707 705 100 0.041 224 672 671 98 0.039 225 611 611 93 0.021 226 648 648 100 0.032 0.009 227 683 682 100 0.025 228 650 650 100 0.025 229 614 614 100 0.01 230 614 614 100 0.072 231 661 660 88 0.13 232 698 698 62 233 650 650 89 0.17 234 652 652 86 0.218 235 662 61 236 724 53 237 662 96 0.168 238 724 98 0.097 239 724 0.073 240 724 >0.70 241 728 14 242 704 36 243 728 35 244 698 42 245 758 40 246 678 73 247 726 41 248 704 86 0.760 249 716 22 250 642 0 251 604 0 252 636 15 253 600 30 254 606 25 255 655 22 256 600 27 257 586 0 258 580 34 259 665 17 260 644 30 261 654 0 262 550 18 263 655 11 264 570 6 265 638 67 266 598 5 267 624 21 268 598 17 * For compounds containing chlorine, listed Mol. Wt. values are provided for the most abundant isotope.

TABLE 19 Cal'd Mol. % Inh @ 1 mM % Inh @ 1 mM ID Wt. MW (MH⁺) (Rabbit colon) (Human antrum) 38 577.4 576 22 84 542.7 543 12 85 577.2 577 28 87 611.6 611 22 88 592.8 593 0 89 561.7 562 3 222 619.8 620 83 83

While the foregoing specification teaches the principles of the present invention, with examples provided for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that the practice of the invention encompasses all of the usual variations, adaptations and/or modifications as come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A compound of formula (I):

wherein: R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, and lower alkyl; wherein the alkyl, aryl or heterocyclyl moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl; R² is selected from the group consisting of aryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, diarylalkyl, aminoalkyl, tri-halomethyl, arylamino and lower alkyl; wherein the alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl, or amino moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, phenyl, carboxy, carboxyalkyl and alkoxycarbonyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; provided that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂; alternatively R¹, R² and X¹ can be taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form a monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure; wherein the monocyclic or fused bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, oxo, nitro, cyano, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, trialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy, acetyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, aryl, aralkyl and heterocyclyl; A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkenyl-alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkenyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl-alkyl; alkyl-aryl-alkyl, alkyl-aryl, aryl-alkyl and phenyl; where, in each case, the A group may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from R⁷; where R⁷ is selected from alkyl, tri-halomethyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, diarylalkyl, aminoalkyl, or arylamino; wherein the alkyl, aryl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl, or amino moieties in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, hydroxy, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, phenyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl; provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl; R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclo-alkyl, tri-halomethyl, alkylamino, arylamino and lower alkyl; wherein the aryl, heterocyclyl, aralkyl, diarylalkyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, alkylamino, arylamino or lower alkyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, nitro, cyano, amino, dialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl; Y is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —NH—, —S— and —SO₂—; n is an integer from 0 to 5; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, N-alkyl-N-aralkyl-amino, trialkylamino, dialkylaminoalkoxyalkyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclyl-alkyl, oxo-substituted heterocyclyl and lower alkyl substituted heterocyclyl; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, nitro, cyano, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, trialkylamino, lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, tri-halomethyl, carboxy and alkoxycarbonyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 2. A compound of claim 1 wherein: R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aralkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl-alkyl; where the aralkyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclyl-alkyl may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, tri-halomethyl, hydroxy or nitro; R² is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, tri-halomethyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylamino, biphenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl-alkyl; where the aryl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, carboxyalkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, diphenylmethyl, tri-halomethyl or trihaloalkylacetyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; such that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂; A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, alkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-alkyl, -cycloalkyl, -cycloalkenyl-, cycloalkenyl-alkyl- and -aryl-alkyl-; where the alkyl moiety in the foregoing groups may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from aralkyl and cycloalkyl; provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl; R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, aralkyl and arylamino; where the aryl or aralkyl group may be substituted with one or more substituents independently selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or tri-halomethyl; Y is —O—; n is an integer from 0 to 3; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, heterocyclyl, oxo-substituted heterocyclyl, lower alkyl substituted heterocyclyl, di(lower alkyl)amino, N-lower alkyl-N-aralkyl-amino and di(lower alkyl)amino alkoxy alkyl; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 3. A compound of claim 1 wherein: R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-, naphthyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl-, and heterocyclyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl- where the heterocyclyl group is selected from pyridyl and where the phenyl, naphthyl or heterocyclyl moiety is optionally substituted with one to three substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, tri-halomethyl, hydroxy and nitro; R² is selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₆) branched or unbranched alkyl, phenyl, phenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-, tri-halomethyl, phenylamino-, biphenyl, diphenyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-, C₅₋₈cycloalkyl, C₅₋₈cycloalkyl(C₁₋₆)alkyl, heterocyclyl and heterocyclyl(C₁-C₆)alkyl-wherein the heterocyclyl moiety is selected from naphthyl, furyl, pyridyl, pyrrolidinyl and thienyl and wherein the phenyl or heterocyclyl group may be substituted with one to four substituents selected from halogen, lower alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, carboxy(C₁₋₄)alkyl, hydroxy, phenyl, diphenylmethyl, trihalomethyl and trihaloalkylacetyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO and SO₂; such that at least one of X¹ or X² and at least one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂; A is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, loweralkyl-cycloalkyl, cycloalkyl-loweralkyl, -cycloalkyl, -cycloalkenyl-, cycloalkenyl-loweralkyl- and -phenyl-loweralkyl- and -benzyl-loweralkyl, provided that A is not -1,3-cyclopentyl-1-ene-alkyl; R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl, benzyl and phenylamino-; where the phenyl or benzyl moieties may be substituted with one to three substituents selected from halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy and trihalomethyl; Y is —O—; n is an integer from 0 to 3; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, heterocyclyl, oxo substituted heterocyclyl, lower alkyl substituted heterocyclyl, di(loweralkyl) amino, N-lower alkyl-N—

aralkyl-amino and a moiety of the formula: where p and t are integers from 1-6; R⁵ is selected from hydrogen and lower alkyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 4. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 4-methylbenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 2,3-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl, 1-naphthyl-methyl, 2-pyridyl-methyl and 4-(1-hydroxy)pyridyl; R² is selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, t-butyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-(phenyl)propyl, 1-(phenyl)propyl, 3-carboxy-n-propyl, 3-carboxy-3-methyl-n-butyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-carboxy-n-propyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, 2-naphthyl, phenylamino, 3-methoxyphenyl, 3-hydroxyphenyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl, 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 3,3,3-trifluoropropan-2-oyl, diphenylmethyl, 4-biphenyl, 3-carboxymethyl-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopenlyl, cyclopentylethyl, (1-carboxymethyl-cyclopentyl)-methyl, 2-furyl, 2-pyridyl-(2-ethyl), 1-pyrrolidinyl-(2-ethyl), 2-thienylmethyl and 2-thienylethyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or selected from the group consisting of CO, and SO₂; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO or SO₂; A is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethyl, 1,3-propyl, 1,4-butyl, 2-methyl-1,3-propyl, 1,1,-dimethyl-(1,3-propyl), 2-cyclopentyl-1,3-n-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,2-cyclopent-1-enyl, 1,4-cyclopentyl-2-ene-methyl, methyl-1,3-cyclohexyl, 1,2-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1,4-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1,2-cyclohex-4-enyl, 1,3-phenyl-methyl and 1-benzyl-methyl-; R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenylamino, 4-methylphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 2-fluorobenzyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl and 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl; Y is selected from the group consisting of -3-O— and -4-O—; n is an integer selected from 0, 2 or 3; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-oxo-pyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-(1-methylpyrrolidinyl), 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)aminoethyloxyethyl, N-methyl-N-benzyl-amino, di(methyl)amino and diethylamino; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 5. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl, 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl and 2-pyridyl-methyl; R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl, 2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl, diphenylmethyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO; A is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-ethyl, 1,3-propyl, 2-methyl-1,3-propyl, 1,1,-dimethyl-(1,3-propyl), 2-cyclopentyl-1,3-n-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-; R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl, 2-fluorobenzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 4-chlorobenzyl, 4-methoxybenzyl and 4-trifluoromethylbenzyl; Y is selected from the group consisting of -3-O— and -4-O—; n is an integer selected from 2 or 3; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperazinyl, 1-piperidinyl, di(methyl)amino and di(ethyl)amino; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 6. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl, 3,5-dichlorobenzyl and 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl; R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 3-carboxybenzyl, 3-methoxybenzyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO; A is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-; R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl; Y is -3-O—; n is 2; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl, 1-piperidinyl and di(methyl)amino; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 2-methyl and 6-methyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 7. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is selected from the group consisting of benzyl, 3-nitrobenzyl, 3-chlorobenzyl, 3,4-dichlorobenzyl, 3,4-difluorobenzyl and 3-trifluoromethylbenzyl; R² is selected from the group consisting of t-butyl, 2-(phenyl)ethyl, trichloromethyl, 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl and 2-(2-thienyl)ethyl; X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are independently absent or CO; such that one of X¹ or X² and one of X³ or X⁴ is CO; A is selected from the group consisting of 1,3-propyl, 1S,3R-cyclopentyl-methyl, 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl-, 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl- and 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-; R³ is selected from the group consisting of phenylamino, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-fluorobenzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl; Y is -3-O—; n is 2; R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, 4-morpholinyl, 1-pyrrolidinyl and 1-piperidinyl; R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and 2-methyl; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 8. A compound as in claim 7 wherein R¹ is 3-chlorobenzyl, R² is trichloromethyl, X¹ is CO, X² is absent, X³ is absent, X⁴ is CO, A is 1S,3R-cyclohexyl-methyl-, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, Y is -3-O—, n is 2, R⁴ is 1-piperidinyl, R⁵ is hydrogen and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 9. A compound as in claim 7 wherein R¹ is 3-chlorobenzyl, R² is trichloromethyl, X¹ is CO, X² is absent, X³ is absent, X⁴ is CO, A is 1R,3S-cyclohexyl-methyl-, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, Y is -3-O—, n is 2, R⁴ is 1-piperidinyl, R⁵ is hydrogen and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 10. A compound as in claim 1 wherein: R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form an optionally substituted, monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic secondary amine ring structure selected from the group consisting of 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]piperazin-1-yl and 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]-naphthyl, 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]-naphthyl, isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-t-butyl-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-fluoro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-methyl-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5,6-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 4,7-dichloro-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-bromo-isoindole-1,3-dione, 5-acetyloxy-isoindole-1,3-dione, benzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione, 8-fluorobenzo[e]isoindole-1,3-dione, 4,4-dimethyl-piperidine-2,6-dione, 3-aza-bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,6-dione and 8-aza-siro[4.5]decane-7,9-dione; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 11. A compound as in claim 8 wherein: R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-propyl, X³ is C(O), R³ is 4-fluorobenzyl, Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.
 12. A compound as in claim 8 wherein: R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 4-[(4-chlorophenyl)phenylmethyl]piperazin-1-yl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-n-propyl, X³ is absent, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, X⁴ is C(O), Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.
 13. A compound as in claim 8 wherein: R¹, R² and X¹ are taken together (with the amine nitrogen) to form 2-[1-benzyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro]-naphthyl, X² is C(O), A is 1,3-n-propyl, X³ is absent, R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, X⁴ is C(O), Y is 3-O—, n is 2 and R⁴ is 4-morpholinyl.
 14. A compound as in claim 1 wherein R¹ is benzyl, R² is benzyl, A is 1,3-cyclohexyl-methyl, X¹ is absent, X² is absent, X³ is absent, X⁴ is C(O), R³ is 4-fluorophenyl, Y is 3-O—, n is 2, R⁴ is 1-pyrrolidinyl and R⁵ is hydrogen and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.
 15. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound of claim
 1. 16. A pharmaceutical composition made by mixing a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 17. A process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising mixing a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 